About Shades of the Santoor
Shades of the Santoor is a studio album featuring the santoor, a traditional Indian stringed instrument. Tarun Bhattacharya and Enayet Hossain performed as the primary artists. The release appeared on February 10, 2010, in CD format.
The album presents five tracks centered on North Indian classical ragas. The opening sequence explores Raga Rageshree through three movements: an Aalap, Jor & Jhala introduction, a Gat in Vilambit Teental (slow tempo), and a Gat in Drut Teental (fast tempo). The remaining compositions include interpretations of Raga Pahadi and Raga Kirwani.
Tarun Bhattacharya contributed as the principal santoor player. Enayet Hossain accompanied on tabla, providing rhythmic support across the recordings. The label information remains undocumented in available sources. The album emphasizes the santoor’s expressive range within the framework of Hindustani classical music, though specific production details or additional session musicians are not confirmed.
The tracklist adheres to a traditional raga performance structure, beginning with an unmetered alap section before progressing to composed gats set in established taals (rhythmic cycles). The selection of Rageshree, Pahadi, and Kirwani reflects a balance of melodic complexity and emotional depth characteristic of the genre. No lyrical content or vocal performances feature in the release.