Dhrupad Aalaap: Raga Poorvi

Dhrupad Aalaap: Raga Poorvi is a 2023 recording of dhrupad-style ālāp in the raga Poorvi performed by vocalist Kaushiki Chakrabarty. The track spans 8 minutes and 30 seconds and showcases the artist’s interpretation of the ālāp section, a slow, meditative improvisation that precedes the structured composition in dhrupad tradition. Chakrabarty employs vocal techniques characteristic of the Dagar bani, emphasizing sustained notes, microtonal oscillations, and gradual melodic development.

The recording focuses exclusively on the ālāp segment without accompanying pakhawaj or tanpura, placing emphasis on the solo vocal exploration of raga Poorvi. The artist navigates the raga’s ascending and descending phrases while adhering to its shuddha (pure) and komal (flattened) swaras, particularly the komal gandhar and shuddha nishad. The performance reflects the dhrupad tradition’s demand for precision in intonation and rhythmic freedom within the ālāp framework.

Release details such as the label, physical or digital format, and exact date remain undocumented in available sources. The track stands as a representative example of Chakrabarty’s engagement with dhrupad, a genre she has explored alongside her primary training in khayal. No additional tracks or album context are confirmed for this recording, suggesting it may exist as a standalone piece or part of an unreleased session.

Notable aspects of the performance include the artist’s use of meend (glissando) to connect phrases and the deliberate pacing that allows the raga’s vadi (dominant note, Pa) and samvadi (subdominant note, Sa) to emerge organically. The absence of instrumental accompaniment directs attention to the vocal intricacies and the raga’s emotional depth, a hallmark of dhrupad ālāp.