Raag Megh – Madhya Khayal in Jhaptal

Salamat Ali Khan performed Raag Megh – Madhya Khayal in Jhaptal during the Metamusik Festival Berlin ’74. The recording appears as track B1 on a posthumous 12\" vinyl release issued by Black Truffle on June 6, 2025.

The performance captures Khan’s rendition of Raag Megh, a monsoon-themed raga traditionally associated with the Kafi thaat. The composition follows the madhya khayal form, a medium-tempo vocal style in Hindustani classical music, set to jhaptal, a 10-beat rhythmic cycle. The recording originates from a live concert at the 1974 Metamusik Festival in Berlin, though production details of the original session remain undocumented. The 2025 vinyl release marks the first official issuance of this specific performance.

Khan’s interpretation of Raag Megh emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the oscillating gandhar (third note) and the prominent use of meend (glissando) between shuddha dhaivat (sixth) and shuddha nishad (seventh). Accompaniment details for the 1974 performance are unverified, but traditional khayal settings typically feature tabla and tanpura. The vinyl mastering for the 2025 edition preserves the live acoustics of the festival venue, with no confirmed studio overdubs or edits.

The Metamusik Festival Berlin ’74 vinyl compiles archival recordings from the event, curated by Black Truffle as part of a series revisiting experimental and classical performances of the era. Khan’s contribution stands as one of the few documented international appearances by the artist during the 1970s. The release includes no additional liner notes or session metadata beyond the track listing and festival attribution.