Raaga Aheer Bhairav - Aallap Vilambit Tree Taal

Raaga Aheer Bhairav – Aallap Vilambit 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 fourth 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 18 minutes and 13 seconds and was distributed in digital media format.

The composition follows the aallap structure in vilambit (slow) tempo, set to the Tree Taal rhythmic cycle. The raga Aheer Bhairav belongs to the Bhairav thaat and is characterized by its use of komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth), with an emphasis on the shuddha ma (pure fourth). The performance showcases the interplay between the mohan veena, a modified slide guitar developed by Bhatt, and the santoor, a struck zither instrument adapted for Indian classical music by Bhattacharya.

The album Icons Of Indian Music – Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Tarun Bhattacharya features collaborative works by the two artists, highlighting their respective innovations in Hindustani instrumental music. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt gained recognition for blending the veena tradition with the Hawaiian guitar, while Tarun Bhattacharya expanded the santoor’s role in classical repertoire. The release date and label information confirm its production during a period of increased global interest in Indian classical fusion. No additional details about the recording sessions, production personnel, or alternate versions are publicly documented.