About Sitar
Sitar is a studio album by Indian classical sitarist Budhaditya Mukherjee. Mukherjee released the album on January 1, 1983. The recording features three tracks that showcase traditional North Indian classical music (Hindustani) rendered on the sitar. The label for the release remains undocumented in available sources.
Mukherjee performs three raga-based compositions on the album. The opening track presents Raga Lalit with an alap followed by a gat set in Teental, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The second track interprets Raga Sahana through a gat in the same Teental framework. The final track adopts Raga Pilu in a thumri style, again structured as a gat in Teental. Each composition emphasizes the expressive and technical dimensions of the sitar within the khayal and semi-classical traditions.
The album reflects Mukherjee’s adherence to the Etawah gharana, a school of sitar known for its intricate tantrakari (string technique) and balanced phrasing. The recording captures the instrumental nuances of the sitar alongside the rhythmic accompaniment of the tabla, though the specific tabla artist remains uncredited in accessible records. The production quality and recording venue are not specified in existing documentation.
Sitar serves as an early example of Mukherjee’s discography, predating his wider recognition in the 1990s. The album’s focus on traditional raga forms without fusion or experimental elements aligns with the classical purism of its era. No reissues or remastered versions have been confirmed in public sources as of the latest updates.