Raag Behag: Alaap Jor Jhala Vilambit, Madhyalaya Ati Drut, Teental

Raag Behag: Alaap Jor Jhala Vilambit, Madhyalaya Ati Drut, Teental is a 20th or 21st-century recording of a Hindustani classical sitar performance by Budhaditya Mukherjee. The work spans 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 50 seconds in a single continuous track. Mukherjee presents the raga in the traditional khayal format, progressing through alaap, jor, and jhala before transitioning into composed sections set to vilambit (slow), madhyalaya (medium), and ati drut (very fast) tempos in teental, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle.

Mukherjee performs on the sitar with accompaniment details unspecified in available sources. The recording captures his interpretation of Raag Behag, a melodic framework associated with the Kafi thaat and traditionally performed during the late evening. The composition adheres to the gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) characteristic of the Etawah gharana, though the release lacks documented production credits, label information, or a confirmed release year.

The track structure follows classical conventions, beginning with an unmetered alaap that explores the raga’s melodic contours. Mukherjee introduces rhythmic elements in the jor section before accelerating into the jhala, a strummed climax. The metered portions employ teental, with the vilambit section establishing thematic material expanded in the madhyalaya and ati drut phases. No lyricist, composer, or accompanying artists are credited in accessible records.

The recording circulates among Hindustani classical archives, though its original publication format (album, live concert, or private release) remains unverified. Mukherjee’s rendition emphasizes the raga’s komal gandhar (flattened third) and shuddha nishad (natural seventh), aligning with Behag’s defining swaras. Further metadata, including session musicians, recording location, or mastering details, is not publicly documented.