Raaga Aheer Bhairav - Aallap Dhrut Tree Taal

Raaga Aheer Bhairav – Aallap Dhrut Tree Taal is a Hindustani classical instrumental composition performed by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on the mohan veena and Tarun Bhattacharya on the santoor. The track appears as the third piece on the album Icons Of Indian Music – Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Tarun Bhattacharya (Hindustani Classical), released on April 13, 1991 under the TIPS label. The recording spans 14 minutes and 32 seconds and follows the aalaap and dhrut sections set to tee taal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle.

The album showcases a collaboration between Bhatt and Bhattacharya, both prominent figures in North Indian classical music. Bhatt adapted the Hawaiian slide guitar into the mohan veena, an instrument he developed to suit the nuances of Hindustani raga traditions. Bhattacharya contributed on the santoor, a struck zither of Kashmiri origin, known for its resonant, sustained tones. The recording format for the release was digital media, aligning with the technological standards of the early 1990s.

The composition centers on Raag Aheer Bhairav, a variant of the morning raga Bhairav characterized by its use of the komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) in ascent and descent. The performance structure includes an exploratory aalaap followed by a faster dhrut section, adhering to the conventions of instrumental khayal presentation. The album title positions the work within a series highlighting influential Indian classical musicians, though specific details about the series’ broader scope remain undocumented in available sources.

The 1991 release reflects the period’s trend of commercial labels like TIPS archiving and distributing classical recordings in digital formats. No additional production credits, session details, or alternate versions of this track are publicly verified. The album remains a reference for students and enthusiasts of Hindustani instrumental music, particularly for its fusion of the mohan veena and santoor in a jugalbandi-style dialogue.