Asāvar (Anaī Sunāī) Dhrupad

Asāvar (Anaī Sunāī) Dhrupad is a traditional dhrupad composition recorded for the 1971 compilation A Musical Anthology of the Orient: India III. The track features the Dagar brothers, Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar, as primary vocalists. They perform in the Dagarbani style, a subgenre of dhrupad known for its meditative phrasing and emphasis on sustained notes. Raja Chattrapati Singh accompanies on the pakhavaj, a barrel-shaped drum integral to dhrupad, while Suraiyā Dagar provides vocal support.

The recording appeared as Track A on a 12\" vinyl release issued by Bärenreiter-Musicaphon, a German label specializing in ethnomusicological archives. The album forms part of a multi-volume series documenting classical and folk traditions across Asia. Asāvar (Anaī Sunāī) adheres to the raga Asāvarī, a late-night melody associated with introspection. The composition follows the chautala rhythmic cycle, a 12-beat structure typical in dhrupad.

The performance captures the Dagar brothers’ signature approach, characterized by slow ālap development and precise microtonal inflections. The recording session’s exact date and location remain undocumented in available sources. The vinyl format preserves the acoustic nuances of the performance, including the resonance of the tanpura drone and the dynamic interplay between voice and percussion. This track exemplifies the Dagar gharana’s contribution to 20th-century dhrupad revivalism.