Gat (Composition in Chautal)

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar performed Gat (Composition in Chautal) as the fourth track on the album Raga Yaman (Rudra Veena // Seattle // 15 March 1986). The recording captures a live rendition of Raga Yaman on the rudra veena, a fretless string instrument central to the Dhrupad tradition of Hindustani classical music. The performance occurred on 15 March 1986 in Seattle, Washington.

The album was released posthumously on 1 June 2018 by the label Ideologic Organ in CD format. The track Gat (Composition in Chautal) spans 7 minutes and 14 seconds and exemplifies Dagar’s mastery of the Dagarbani style, characterized by deep, resonant tonal explorations and intricate rhythmic phrasing in the 12-beat chautal cycle. The recording preserves the acoustic ambiance of the original concert setting.

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (1929–1990) belonged to the 19th generation of the Dagar gharana, a lineage renowned for its Dhrupad interpretations. His performances on the rudra veena emphasized meditative development of raga structures, often employing prolonged alap and systematic rhythmic elaboration. The 1986 Seattle concert stands as one of the few documented live recordings of his later career, offering insight into his improvisational approach within the Yaman framework.

The album’s production credits and additional session details remain undocumented in available sources. The release forms part of Ideologic Organ’s series dedicated to archival and experimental music, though specific catalog numbering or reissue history is not publicly confirmed.