About Vrindavan 1982
Vrindavan 1982 is an archival studio album by Indian classical vocalist and rudra veena exponent Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. The label Black Truffle released the recording on 12\" vinyl in October 2023. The album captures a 1982 performance in Vrindavan, preserved and issued four decades later as part of the label’s series on historical Indian classical music.
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar performs a single raga across the album’s four tracks. The recording centers on Raga Yaman Kalyan, a late-evening raga in the Hindustani tradition. The track sequence follows the traditional alap-jod-jhala structure, beginning with two extended alap sections that explore the raga’s melodic framework. The third track introduces jod, a phase marked by rhythmic pulse and intricate phrasing. The final track combines jhala with a chautala composition in 12 beats, concluding the performance.
The album’s tracklist includes Raga Yaman Kalyan: Alap, Part 1, Raga Yaman Kalyan: Alap, Part 2, Raga Yaman Kalyan: Jod, and Raga Yaman Kalyan: Jhala & Chautala (12 beats). The recording emphasizes the rudra veena, an ancient fretless lute associated with the Dagarvani tradition. No additional artists or accompanying instruments appear on the release.
Black Truffle produced the vinyl edition with remastered audio from the original 1982 tapes. The label provided no public documentation on the recording’s venue, technical personnel, or original recording conditions. The 2023 release marks the first official issuance of this performance in any format.