About The Song Of Shiva
The Song of Shiva is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan. Released in 2000 under Navras Records, the album presents three extended renditions of North Indian classical ragas in the khayal tradition. The recording format is a commercial audio CD.
The album features Khan as the sole lead artist. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though traditional khayal performances typically include tabla and tanpura support. The tracklist comprises three compositions: two interpretations of Raga Bhairav and one of Raga Deshkar. Each track adopts the slow (vilambit) and fast (drut) tempo sections characteristic of classical recitals.
Navras Records issued the album in 2000 as part of its classical music catalog. The release date for the physical CD aligns with the same year. No alternate formats or reissues have been confirmed in public records. The album title references Shiva, a principal deity in Hinduism, though the musical content adheres to the abstract structure of raga rather than devotional themes.
Khan’s performance on The Song of Shiva exemplifies the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, a school known for its intricate taan patterns and emotive phrasing. The Raga Bhairav tracks emphasize the early morning raga’s solemn and meditative qualities, while Raga Deshkar explores a late evening melody with complex melodic oscillations. Specific compositional credits or lyricists for the bandish (fixed melodic phrases) are not listed in the album metadata.
The album’s reception and commercial performance remain undocumented in accessible archives. Navras Records, the producing label, specialized in Indian classical and fusion music during the late 1990s and early 2000s. No subsequent live performances or adaptations of this recording have been verified.