Raga Ahir Bhairav

Ahir Bhairav (1984) is a live recording of Raga Ahir Bhairav performed by vocalist Ustad Amir Khan. The track appears as the opening piece on the compilation album A Life in Music, released in 1984 by Saregama on compact disc. The performance spans 29 minutes and 16 seconds, showcasing Khan’s interpretation of the morning raga within the khayal tradition of Hindustani classical music.

The album A Life in Music curates selections from Khan’s career, though specific recording dates and venues for individual tracks remain undocumented in widely accessible sources. Saregama, the label responsible for the release, compiled the material to highlight Khan’s contributions to the Indore gharana, a school known for its emphasis on slow, meditative vilambit expositions and intricate taan patterns. The label’s production preserved the acoustic qualities of Khan’s voice, accompanied by traditional instrumental support typical of classical recitals.

Raga Ahir Bhairav belongs to the Bhairav thaat and is traditionally performed in the early morning. Khan’s rendition adheres to the raga’s structural conventions, including the use of komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) as defining swaras. The recording captures his characteristic phrasing, marked by deliberate pacing and a focus on bhav (emotional expression) over technical virtuosity. Accompaniment details, such as the names of supporting artists on tabla or tampura, are not specified in the album’s original liner notes or subsequent reissues.

The 1984 CD release by Saregama followed Khan’s death in 1974, positioning A Life in Music as a posthumous tribute. The album’s format reflected the era’s transition from vinyl and cassette to digital media, though later reissues may have introduced remastered versions. No alternate takes or extended editions of this particular Ahir Bhairav performance have been officially documented.