Mangal-Bhairav: Drut gat (tîn-tal)

Mangal-Bhairav (raga): Drut gat (tîn-tal) is a khyal performance recorded by vocalist Gopal Krishan in the dhrupad-ang gayaki style. The track appears as the third composition on the album Inde du Nord: Dhrupad / Khyal, released on May 11, 2009 by the French label Ocora in CD format.

The performance spans 8 minutes and 25 seconds and renders the raga Mangal-Bhairav in a drut gat (fast-tempo) setting, structured in tîn-tal (16-beat rhythmic cycle). Gopal Krishan executes the composition with characteristic phrasing associated with the Dagarbani tradition, though specific accompanying artists or instrumentalists remain undocumented in available sources. The album itself compiles field recordings and studio sessions that showcase North Indian classical vocal forms, with Ocora specializing in ethnomusicological and traditional music releases.

The parent release Inde du Nord: Dhrupad / Khyal features a selection of tracks representing both dhrupad and khyal genres, emphasizing the contrast between the older dhrupad style and the more ornate khyal. Gopal Krishan’s contribution stands as one of the khyal interpretations on the compilation. No additional metadata confirms whether the track originated from a live concert or a controlled studio environment. The liner notes or original packaging may provide further context on the recording session, but such details are not widely published.

The raga Mangal-Bhairav belongs to the Bhairav thaat and is traditionally performed in the early morning. This particular rendition adheres to the structural conventions of drut gat, where the vocalist elaborates the raga through rapid melodic patterns while maintaining alignment with the tîn-tal framework. The track excludes alaap or slow expository sections, focusing instead on the rhythmic and technical demands of the gat form.

Ocora’s release strategy for Inde du Nord: Dhrupad / Khyal targeted audiences interested in comparative studies of Hindustani vocal music. The album received distribution primarily in European markets, with limited commercial data on its reception in India. Gopal Krishan’s discography includes other recordings under the Dagar lineage, though this track remains one of the few commercially available through Ocora’s catalog.