About Santoor
Santoor is a studio album by Indian classical santoor player Tarun Bhattacharya. The release features three tracks that showcase the instrument in traditional Hindustani classical music and semi-classical forms. Bhattacharya composed and performed all pieces on the santoor, a hammered dulcimer of Kashmiri origin.
The album was released on January 1, 1996, in CD format. The label information remains undocumented in available sources. The recording emphasizes raga-based improvisations and rhythmic compositions, accompanied by tabla and tanpura in the classical tracks.
The tracklist includes three primary works. The first track presents Raag Hament with an aochar gat in Teen Taal, followed by a faster variation in the same rhythmic cycle. The second track explores Raag Nat Bhairav, featuring an aochar gat set to Nasruk, a less common 7-beat cycle. The final track is a thumri in Misra Khamaj, performed in Taal Dadra, a light-classical form often associated with expressive vocal traditions.
Tarun Bhattacharya adapted the santoor for solo performance in Hindustani classical music, expanding its role beyond accompaniment. This album reflects his approach to raga elaboration and rhythmic precision. The recording process and contributing artists for tabla or tanpura are not specified in the available documentation.
The release contributes to the discography of instrumental Hindustani classical music from the 1990s. Further details about production, recording locations, or additional personnel remain unverified in public records.