Raga Ahir Bivash

Ustad Bahadur Khan is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Bahadur Khan, released in 1976 under the His Master’s Voice label. The recording appeared on a 12\" vinyl format and features a single extended track titled Raga Ahir Bivash, designated as side A of the release.

Bahadur Khan presents a khayal performance in Raga Ahir Bivash, a raga associated with the late-night or early-morning hours in the Hindustani classical tradition. The composition follows the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempo structure typical of khayal renditions, though specific taal (rhythmic cycle) and accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources. The album captures Khan’s vocal technique, characterized by intricate taan patterns and phrasing reflective of the gharana (school) he represented, though the exact lineage is not specified in the release notes.

The 1976 pressing by His Master’s Voice positioned the album within the label’s catalog of Indian classical recordings, which included works by prominent artists of the era. The vinyl format accommodated the extended duration of the raga performance, a common practice for classical releases during this period. No reissues or digital remasters of this specific recording have been confirmed in public records. Additional session musicians, if present, are not credited on the original sleeve or accompanying documentation.

Limited archival information restricts further detail on the production context, including recording location, engineers, or the total runtime of the track. The album serves as a documented example of Bahadur Khan’s contributions to Hindustani vocal music during the mid-1970s, though broader critical reception or commercial performance data is not readily accessible.