Ragas for Dawn

Ragas for Dawn is a studio album of North Indian classical music performed by sitarist Manilal Nag and tabla player Samar Saha. The recording centers on morning ragas, emphasizing the traditional early-day repertoire of the Hindustani classical tradition. Aimrec released the album on compact disc on May 21, 2020.

The album features four tracks structured around two primary ragas. The first three compositions explore Raga Bilaskhani Todi, beginning with an alap, followed by sections in jor and jhala. The subsequent tracks present a gat in vilambit teental (slow 16-beat cycle) and a gat in drut teental (fast 16-beat cycle). The final track performs Raga Bhairavi, a staple of dawn recitals in the Hindustani system. The recording captures the instrumental interplay between Nag’s sitar and Saha’s tabla, adhering to the improvisational and rhythmic conventions of the genre.

The label Aimrec produced the album as part of its catalog of Indian classical releases. The physical format consists of a single CD with a total runtime undocumented in available sources. No additional session musicians or vocalists appear on the recording. The liner notes or accompanying documentation, if included, remain unconfirmed in public records.

The release date coincided with the album’s official launch event on May 21, 2020, though details of the event’s location or format are not specified. Critical reception or commercial performance data for Ragas for Dawn is not widely published. The work contributes to the discography of both artists, with Nag recognized for his adherence to the Etah-Binkar gharana style of sitar and Saha noted for his accompaniment in the Farrukhabad gharana of tabla.