Part I: Movement I - Ahir-Bhairav / Movement II - Nat-Bhairav: Ek Tala / Movement III - Piloo: Teen Tala

Call of the Valley is a 1968 studio album featuring North Indian classical instrumental music. The record paired santoor virtuoso Shivkumar Sharma, bansuri flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra in a collaborative fusion of Hindustani raga traditions with light classical and folk elements. His Master’s Voice released the album as a 12\" vinyl LP under catalog number STH 04-80001.

The opening track Part I spans 20 minutes and 31 seconds across three movements. Sharma introduced the composition in Ahir-Bhairav, a morning raga characterized by its komal re and komal dha swaras. Chaurasia expanded the theme in the second movement, shifting to Nat-Bhairav in ek tala (a 12-beat cycle). The finale transitioned to Piloo, a semi-classical raga, rendered in teen tala (16 beats) with Kabra contributing slide guitar accompaniment. The track occupied Side A of the original pressing as A1.

The album marked an early example of Indian classical musicians adopting studio production techniques while retaining improvisational spontaneity. Sharma and Chaurasia later became central figures in popularizing Hindustani music globally, but Call of the Valley remained a defining work of their early collaboration. The liner notes credited Brij Bhushan Kabra for pioneering the adaptation of Hawaiian slide guitar to Indian classical frameworks. No additional session musicians or producers received attribution in the original release documentation.

Later reissues on CD and digital platforms preserved the 1968 track sequence but omitted the vinyl’s side divisions. The album cover art depicted a pastoral Himalayan landscape, reinforcing the thematic connection to valley-inspired ragas. Archival sources confirm the recording sessions occurred in Mumbai, though exact studio details remain unverified.