About Singing Violin
Singing Violin is a studio album by Indian violinist Kala Ramnath. The album features five tracks of Hindustani classical music performed on the violin. Ramnath composed and arranged the recordings, which emphasize the gayaki ang (vocal-style) technique adapted for the violin.
Neelam Audio and Video, Inc. released the album on CD in 1997. The label distributed the recording as part of its classical music catalog. The production retains a traditional acoustic setup without electronic processing or overdubs.
The tracklist includes two compositions in Raga Bilaskhani Todi and two in Raga Alihya Bilawal, followed by a tarana in Teen Taal. The first track presents a vilambit (slow-tempo) exploration of Raga Bilaskhani Todi in Ek Taal. The second track transitions to a drut (fast-tempo) rendition of the same raga in Teen Taal. The third track is a tarana set to Teen Taal, maintaining the Bilaskhani Todi framework. The fourth and fifth tracks shift to Raga Alihya Bilawal, beginning with a khayal in Ek Taal and concluding with a drut composition in Teen Taal.
The album captures Ramnath’s interpretation of North Indian classical forms, with accompaniment details unspecified in available sources. The recording session location and additional personnel remain undocumented. The 1997 release marked one of Ramnath’s early commercial albums under her own name, following her training under violinist N. Rajam and vocalists of the Gwalior and Jaipur-Atrauli gharanas.
Critics and listeners often note the album for its adherence to vocalistic phrasing on the violin, a hallmark of Ramnath’s style. The liner notes, where present, provide minimal contextual information beyond track titles and raga names. The CD format allowed for extended track lengths, with individual pieces ranging between 15 and 25 minutes.