About Sitar
Sitar is a vinyl release by Indian classical sitarist Budhaditya Mukherjee. The album features two extended tracks showcasing traditional North Indian (Hindustani) raga performances. Mukherjee composed and performed the sitar parts, accompanied by an unspecified tabla artist.
Mukherjee released the album on January 1, 1980. The recording captures two raga interpretations: Raga Bhimpalasi Alap And Gat and Raga Mishra Khamaj Gat, Vilambat And Drut. The first track presents an alap (slow, meditative introduction) followed by a gat (fixed rhythmic composition) in Raga Bhimpalasi. The second track explores Raga Mishra Khamaj with sections in vilambit (slow tempo) and drut (fast tempo) styles.
The format adheres to the classical khayal tradition, with Mukherjee emphasizing melodic development and improvisation within the raga framework. The tabla accompaniment follows the standard role of maintaining rhythmic cycles (tala) while interacting with the sitar’s melodic phrases. The release contains no additional liner notes or documented session details beyond the tracklist.
No label information is provided in available sources. The album’s distribution scope and commercial reception remain undocumented. Mukherjee’s performance style on this recording aligns with the Ettawa gharana (school) of sitar playing, characterized by deep alap exploration and intricate taan (fast melodic runs) patterns.
The total runtime of the two tracks spans the full duration of the vinyl sides, though exact timings are not specified. The release serves as an example of Mukherjee’s early recorded work, preceding his later collaborations and international performances in the 1990s and 2000s.