Misra Kafi: gat in fast tintal

Misra Kafi: gat in fast tintal is a 31-minute instrumental composition performed by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The track appears as the fourth piece on the album Misra Kafi, recorded in 1982 and released in 1990 by Raga Records on CD. The performance showcases Banerjee’s interpretation of Misra Kafi, a raga derived from the Kafi thaat with added komal re and teevra ma, set in a fast tintal (16-beat cycle).

The recording captures Banerjee’s signature gat (fixed composition) development, emphasizing intricate taans (melodic phrases) and rhythmic interplay. The album Misra Kafi focuses exclusively on this raga, with the 1990 release marking one of the few studio recordings of Banerjee’s later work before his death in 1986. The label Raga Records specialized in North Indian classical music, and this CD format release contributed to wider accessibility of his performances outside live concert settings.

Limited documentation exists on the accompanying artists for this track. The recording session details, including tabliya (percussionist) or tambura support, remain unverified in available sources. The composition adheres to the traditional khayal-influenced instrumental style, with Banerjee expanding the raga’s emotional range through extended alaap-jor-jhala sections before the gat execution. The 1990 release date suggests posthumous production, aligning with Raga Records’ catalog of archival material from the 1980s.