Mishra Pilu

Mishra Pilu is a raga-based composition performed by flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia. The track appears as side B, track 2 (B2) on the album Music of India – Flute Recital, released in 1968. The recording showcases Chaurasia’s interpretation of the semi-classical Mishra Pilu raga, a blend of the Pilu thaat with additional mishra (mixed) elements. The album format is a 12\" vinyl LP issued by His Master’s Voice (HMV), a prominent Indian record label under the EMI group.

The performance reflects Chaurasia’s early career phase, capturing his signature bansuri (bamboo flute) technique with elongated alaaps and intricate taans. Accompaniment details for this track remain undocumented in available sources, though traditional tabla and tanpura support is standard for recordings of this era and genre. The album positions Chaurasia as a leading exponent of the Maihar gharana, a school of North Indian classical music founded by his mentor, Annapurna Devi.

Music of India – Flute Recital marks one of Chaurasia’s initial commercial releases under HMV, contributing to the broader dissemination of Hindustani instrumental music in the late 1960s. The vinyl’s liner notes, where present, typically included minimal technical annotations, prioritizing the auditory experience over theoretical analysis. No alternate takes or live versions of this specific recording are verified in public archives. The track duration and exact recording location are not specified in the original release documentation.

The album’s production aligns with HMV’s mid-20th-century cataloging of Indian classical artists, which often featured single-artist recitals to highlight virtuosity. Mishra Pilu exemplifies the label’s focus on preserving traditional raga structures while adapting to the LP format’s side-length constraints. Later reissues or digital remasters of this recording, if any, are not officially cataloged by the original label or the artist’s estate.