Hori in Raga Mishra Kafi (Deepchandi Taal)

Girija Devi performed Hori in Raga Mishra Kafi set to Deepchandi Taal as the second track on the 2012 compilation Masterworks from the NCPA Archives. The recording spans 17 minutes and 41 seconds and appears on a CD released by Sony Music.

The composition belongs to the semi-classical Hori genre, rooted in the traditions of Banaras gharana. Girija Devi rendered the piece in Mishra Kafi, a raga that blends elements of Kafi Thaat with additional komal and tivra swaras. The rhythmic structure follows Deepchandi Taal, a 14-beat cycle commonly associated with folk and light classical forms.

The album Masterworks from the NCPA Archives curates live and studio recordings from performances at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai. Sony Music produced the release as part of an initiative to document and preserve archival material from Indian classical and semi-classical concerts. The compilation features multiple artists, though specific session details for this track remain undocumented in the provided context.

Girija Devi (1929–2017) established herself as a leading exponent of the Banaras gharana and the Purab Ang thumri style. Her rendition of Hori exemplifies her signature approach to bol-banao (lyrical improvisation) and layakari (rhythmic play). The track captures her vocal agility and the expressive use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) characteristic of her performances.

No additional information exists in the given context regarding accompanying artists, recording location, or original performance date. The track stands as a representative example of Girija Devi’s contributions to the Hori repertoire within the broader framework of North Indian semi-classical music.