Alap, Jor, Jhala in Multani

Dhrupad (2018) is a digital album featuring a performance of the Multani raga in the dhrupad tradition of Hindustani classical music. The recording centers on an extended ālāp, jor, and jhālā rendered by vocalists Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar. The brothers belong to the Dagar gharana, a lineage renowned for its adherence to the dhrupad style and its emphasis on meditative, slow-tempo explorations of raga structure.

The album consists of a single track titled Alap, Jor, Jhala in Multani with a duration of 38 minutes and 20 seconds. The performance unfolds in three distinct sections: the ālāp introduces the raga with unmetered, improvisational phrases; the jor introduces a subtle pulse while maintaining the raga’s contemplative mood; the jhālā accelerates into rapid, rhythmic patterns that conclude the rendition. The artists employ tanpura drone and sparse percussive support, though the recording focuses primarily on the vocal interplay between the two performers.

Country & Eastern released the album on June 8, 2018, as part of its catalog dedicated to traditional and folk music from South Asia. The label issued the work in digital formats, with no physical media documented. The recording captures a live or studio performance, though the exact session details remain unconfirmed in available sources. The album serves as an example of the Dagar brothers’ collaborative approach to dhrupad, a genre characterized by its austere vocal technique, microtonal inflections, and deep engagement with the spiritual dimensions of raga.

Notable aspects of the track include the artists’ use of nom-tom (syllabic vocalization) and their exploration of Multani, a raga associated with the late afternoon or early evening. The performance adheres to the dhrupad convention of gradual development, avoiding abrupt transitions or ornamental flourishes in favor of sustained, linear melodic expansion. No lyrics or composed text accompany the improvisation, as the focus remains on the abstract rendering of the raga’s swara (notes) and chalan (movement).