Intro

Music of India: Morning and Evening Rāgas is a 1956 studio album featuring Western violinist Yehudi Menuhin in collaboration with Indian classical musicians. The label His Master’s Voice released the recording on a 12\" vinyl format. The album explores traditional Hindustani rāgas performed in morning and evening settings, blending Western and Indian classical instrumentation.

The opening track Intro appears as side A1 on the vinyl release. The composition spans one minute in duration. Menuhin adapted the violin to emulate the tonal nuances of Indian classical music, accompanied by unnamed Indian instrumentalists. The recording session details, including the specific musicians and recording location, remain partially undocumented in available sources.

The album marked an early cross-cultural fusion effort in the mid-20th century. His Master’s Voice distributed the release primarily in India and select international markets. Later reissues or digital remasters of the original 1956 pressing are not confirmed in public records. The tracklist beyond Intro includes rāga-based performances, though comprehensive documentation of all compositions is incomplete.

Menuhin’s engagement with Indian classical music predated wider Western interest in the genre. The collaboration followed his studies under Indian violinist Yehudi Menuhin—though the exact mentor for this project is unverified—and reflected his broader advocacy for global musical exchange. The album cover and liner notes, where preserved, provide contextual essays on rāga theory but lack detailed production credits.