Rag Misra Mand

Rag Misra Mand is a 21-minute and 30-second instrumental track recorded by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee and sarod player Ali Akbar Khan. The performance appears as the second track on the album Signature Series, Volume 4, released on August 9, 1994, under the AMMP label. The album was issued in CD format.

The composition belongs to the Hindustani classical tradition and showcases the collaborative improvisation characteristic of the genre. The raga Misra Mand serves as the foundational melodic framework for the performance. The recording captures the interplay between Banerjee’s sitar and Khan’s sarod, with both artists contributing to the alap, jor, and jhala sections typical of classical Indian instrumental renditions.

The Signature Series by AMMP documents live and studio performances by prominent Indian classical musicians. Volume 4 includes this track alongside other works, though specific details about the recording session location or accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources. The album serves as part of a broader collection aimed at preserving and disseminating traditional Hindustani music.

Ali Akbar Khan (1922–2009) was a renowned sarod maestro and composer, recognized for his contributions to the Maihar gharana. Nikhil Banerjee (1931–1986) was a distinguished sitarist of the Maihar-Imdadkhani lineage. Their collaboration on this track reflects the shared stylistic and technical influences of their respective gharanas.