About South Indian Flute
South Indian Flute is a studio album of Carnatic classical music performed by flautist Tanjore Viswanathan. The label World Pacific released the recording in 1968 as a 12\" vinyl LP. The album features five tracks, each centered on a distinct raga from the South Indian classical tradition.
Tanjore Viswanathan composed and performed all selections on the bamboo flute. The tracklist includes Raga Bhairavi, Raga Nagaswarali, Raga Behag, Raga Varali, and Raga Senjuruti. The album emphasizes alapana (melodic elaboration) and neraval (improvisational variations) characteristic of Carnatic flute recitals. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources.
World Pacific produced the recording as part of its series on global traditional music. The label distributed the vinyl in North America and Europe, contributing to the international exposure of Carnatic instrumental music during the late 1960s. The release date aligns with the broader period of cross-cultural exchange in world music recordings. No reissues or digital remasters have been confirmed in public records.
The album cover art and liner notes are not described in accessible archives. The original pressing credits Tanjore Viswanathan as the sole featured artist. The duration of individual tracks and total runtime are not specified in surviving documentation. The recording stands as one of the earliest commercially released LPs dedicated exclusively to the Carnatic flute in the Western market.