Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani (Rudra Veena // Seattle // 9 March 1986)
About Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani (Rudra Veena // Seattle // 9 March 1986)
Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani (Rudra Veena // Seattle // 9 March 1986) is a live recording by Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, a prominent exponent of the dhrupad tradition and a master of the rudra veena. The performance captures a solo recital held in Seattle on 9 March 1986. The recording remained unreleased for over three decades before its official publication.
Ideologic Organ issued the album digitally on 14 May 2018. The release preserves the concert in its entirety, divided into eight tracks that document two raga explorations: Raga Abhogi and Raga Vardhani. Each raga follows the classical dhrupad structure, with distinct sections for alap, jod, and jhala. The tracklist includes Abhogi: Alap, Abhogi: Jod, Abhogi: Jhala, Vardhani: Alap, Vardhani: Jod, and Vardhani: Jhala, alongside two composite tracks titled Raga Abhogi and Raga Vardhani.
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar belonged to the Dagar gharana, a lineage renowned for its rigorous adherence to dhrupad and the rudra veena. His performance in this recording exemplifies the meditative and expansive qualities of the tradition, emphasizing slow, deliberate development of melodic phrases. The rudra veena, a fretless lute with deep resonant tones, serves as the sole instrument throughout the recital.
The 2018 release contains no additional production or overdubs, presenting the original 1986 recording with minimal post-processing. The label provided no supplementary documentation regarding the venue specifics, audience size, or technical recording conditions. The album stands as a historical document of Dagar’s artistry in the final decades of his career.