About Ragas Shuddh Kalyan and Suha
Ragas Shuddh Kalyan and Suha is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar. Released on January 1, 1999, the recording features Amonkar performing two ragas in the khyal style, a traditional form of North Indian classical music. The album was issued on compact disc.
Amonkar presents three tracks on the release. The first two explore Raga Shuddh Kalyan, beginning with a khyal in Vilambit Teental, a slow-paced rhythmic cycle of 16 beats. The second track continues in the same raga but shifts to Drut Teental, a faster tempo within the same 16-beat structure. The third and final track interprets Raga Suha through a khyal set in Madhya Lay Teental, a medium-tempo variation of the 16-beat cycle.
The album captures Amonkar’s approach to raga elaboration, emphasizing melodic development and improvisation within the framework of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, a school of Hindustani classical music known for its intricate taan patterns and emotional depth. The recording does not specify accompanying artists, instrumentation, or a releasing label in the available context. The total runtime of the album remains undocumented.
As a representative work of Amonkar’s late-career recordings, Ragas Shuddh Kalyan and Suha aligns with her broader discography of raga-based performances. The album’s focus on Shuddh Kalyan and Suha reflects her selection of lesser-explored ragas alongside more established ones, a characteristic feature of her artistic repertoire.