About Ragas Hameer & Gara
Ragas Hameer & Gara is a 1979 Indian classical music album by sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and tabla maestro Alla Rakha. The release presents two ragas in extended instrumental performances. Angel Records issued the album on January 1, 1979, in stereo LP format.
The album contains three tracks. The first track, "Raga Hameer," spans 28 minutes and 12 seconds. Ravi Shankar performs the alap, followed by two gats in Teental (16-beat cycle). Alla Rakha accompanies the gats on tabla. The second track, "Taal Tintal," lasts 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Alla Rakha demonstrates the Tintal cycle through solo tabla improvisations. The third track, "Raga Gara," extends for 25 minutes and 48 seconds. Ravi Shankar executes the alap and three gats, while Alla Rakha provides rhythmic support in Farodast tala (a 14-beat cycle) for the final gat.
Ravi Shankar composed both ragas. The liner notes credit him as the sole composer. The album does not include additional musicians or vocalists. The recording captures a live concert performance, though the exact venue and date remain unconfirmed in available documentation.
The album exemplifies the Hindustani classical tradition of raga exposition. Ravi Shankar structures each raga with a slow, meditative alap, followed by progressively faster gats. Alla Rakha’s tabla playing integrates complex rhythmic patterns and improvisations within the prescribed talas. The release preserves the spontaneous interaction characteristic of Hindustani duet performances.
