About Raga Pancham Kosh
Raga Pancham Kosh is a studio recording of Dhrupad by Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, released in 1987. The album features a solo performance by Dagar on the rudra veena, a fretless lute traditionally associated with the Dagar bani (style) of Dhrupad. The release marks one of the few commercially available recordings of Dagar’s rendition of the rare Raga Pancham Kosh, a melody from the Dhrupad repertoire with historical roots in the Gwalior and Dagar traditions.
The album was issued on CD by the French label Auvidis under its Unesco Collection: Musique Traditionnelle series. The recording captures a single extended track divided into three movements: an alap (unmetered improvisation) in Raga Pancham Kosh, followed by a jhor (rhythmic elaboration) in the same raga, and a concluding composition in Raga Malkauns. The total runtime spans approximately 60 minutes, adhering to the structural conventions of Dhrupad performance.
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (1929–1990) was a prominent exponent of the Dagarvani Dhrupad tradition and a disciple of his uncle, Ustad Nasir Moinuddin Dagar. His interpretations emphasized meditative exploration of raga through sustained alap, minimal rhythmic ornamentation, and precise intonation on the rudra veena. The 1987 release reflects these characteristics, with the Pancham Kosh performance showcasing the raga’s pentatonic framework and its affinity with the shuddha pancham (pure fifth) scale degree.
The album’s production context remains partially undocumented. No accompanying artists, recording location, or session dates are publicly verified. The tracklist credits Dagar as the sole performer, with no mention of a pakhawaj (percussion) accompanist, suggesting the recording focuses exclusively on the alap and jhor sections. The inclusion of Raga Malkauns as a secondary composition aligns with Dhrupad conventions of concluding with a lighter, more rhythmic piece.
Raga Pancham Kosh received limited commercial distribution outside specialist circles but gained recognition among Dhrupad scholars for its adherence to traditional bani. The album is cited in discographies of Dagar’s work and remains a reference for studies of the rudra veena repertoire. No reissues or remastered editions have been confirmed as of the latest available records.