Alap

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar released Raga Shudda Todi in 1994 under Nimbus Records. The album features a solo performance in the dhrupad tradition of Hindustani classical music. The primary format of the release is a commercial audio CD.

The opening track Alap spans 34 minutes and 21 seconds. Dagar performs an unaccompanied alap in Raga Shudda Todi, a morning raga characterized by its intricate melodic development and emphasis on the komal re (flattened second) and tivra ma (sharp fourth). The recording captures the artist’s use of sustained notes, meend (glissando), and gradual rhythmic elaboration without percussive accompaniment.

The album exemplifies Dagar’s adherence to the Dagarvani style, a sub-school of dhrupad known for its meditative phrasing and deep exploration of raga structure. The label provided no additional details about recording location, session musicians, or production personnel. The release date and tracklist confirm a single long-form composition as the central focus of the CD.

Nimbus Records distributed the album as part of its classical music catalog, though specific sales figures or reissue history remain undocumented. The recording serves as a reference for students and performers of the Shudda Todi raga within the dhrupad repertoire.