Raga Ahir Bhairav

Maestro’s Choice: Sarangi is a studio album by Indian classical musician Ustad Sultan Khan, released on 2003 under the Music Today label. The album features Khan on the sarangi, a bowed string instrument central to Hindustani classical music. The primary format of the release is compact disc (CD).

The album opens with a 31-minute-8-second rendition of Raga Ahir Bhairav, a morning raga known for its meditative and introspective character. Khan’s performance showcases the sarangi’s expressive capabilities, emphasizing the raga’s komal re (flat second) and komal dha (flat sixth) swaras. The track follows the traditional alaap-jor-jhala structure before transitioning into a rhythmic section accompanied by tabla. Specific details about accompanying artists or the recording location remain undocumented in available sources.

Khan, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2010) and a disciple of the Indore gharana, was renowned for his mastery of the sarangi and his contributions to both classical and semi-classical genres. Maestro’s Choice: Sarangi forms part of his discography during the 2000s, a period marked by collaborations with artists across Indian classical, fusion, and film music. The album’s production aligns with Music Today’s focus on archival and contemporary recordings of Indian classical traditions.

No additional tracks, liner notes, or alternate editions of this release are confirmed in public records. The album’s reception and commercial performance are not widely documented, though Khan’s stature in Hindustani music ensures its recognition among sarangi aficionados. The recording exemplifies the khayal style of raga presentation, a hallmark of North Indian classical performance practice.