Bageshri: Bandish in Ektal

Raga Bageshri is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan. The album focuses on the evening raga Bageshri, a prominent raga in the Kafi thaat characterized by its emotive and introspective quality. The recording was released in 1998 under the label India Archive Music in CD format.

The album includes a rendition of Raga Bageshri: Drut Bandish in Ektal as its third track. This composition spans 4 minutes and 4 seconds and showcases Khan’s mastery of taans (melodic improvisations) and layakari (rhythmic play) within the 12-beat ektal cycle. The track exemplifies the gayaki (vocal style) of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, to which Khan belongs. The recording captures a condensed yet expressive interpretation, emphasizing the raga’s komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) swaras.

Limited documentation exists regarding the accompanying artists or session details for this release. The album’s production aligns with India Archive Music’s focus on preserving traditional Hindustani classical performances in high-fidelity recordings. Khan’s rendition of Bageshri remains a reference for students and connoisseurs studying the raga’s structural and emotional depth.