Raag Hem Bihag

Raag Hem Bihag is a khayal-based raga performance recorded by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee for the album Fond Memories – Sitar Vol. 4. The track spans 28 minutes and 46 seconds and appears as the second composition on the release. Banerjee renders the raga in the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections, adhering to the traditional structure of alaap-jor-jhala followed by a composed gat in teentaal (16-beat cycle). The recording captures his characteristic gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) and intricate taan patterns, with accompaniment details unspecified in available sources.

The album Fond Memories – Sitar Vol. 4 was released in 1995 under the All India Radio label. The compilation features archival and studio recordings by Banerjee, though the specific session date for this track remains undocumented. The format of the release is CD, part of a multi-volume series dedicated to his sitar performances. No additional musicians or tabla accompanists are credited in the track metadata, and the liner notes (if included) are not publicly detailed. The raga Hem Bihag itself is a variant of Bihag, distinguished by its use of shuddha dhaivat (natural sixth) and komal nishad (flattened seventh) in descent.

Banerjee’s interpretation of Hem Bihag reflects his training under the Senia-Maihar gharana, emphasizing lyrical development and rhythmic precision. The recording stands as a late-career example of his work, released posthumously four years after his death in 1986. The album’s production context, including recording location and engineering personnel, is not explicitly documented in accessible archives.