Raga: Araj (Teen Tal)

Raga: Araj ● Madhyami is a studio album by Indian classical sitarist Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan. The label His Master’s Voice released the recording in 1973 on vinyl format. The album features a single long-form composition in Raga Araj, set to Teen Tal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle common in Hindustani classical music.

The sole track spans 19 minutes and 31 seconds. Khan performs the raga with the sitar as the primary instrument. The recording captures his interpretation of Raga Araj, a lesser-documented raga within the Hindustani tradition that emphasizes the madhyami (fourth) note. Accompaniment details remain unconfirmed in available sources, though traditional tabla and tanpura support is standard for such recordings of the era.

Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan established himself as a prominent figure in the Indore gharana, known for blending technical precision with lyrical phrasing. This album represents his work during the 1970s, a period marked by his contributions to sitar repertoire and recording output. His Master’s Voice, a subsidiary of EMI, distributed the vinyl in India, targeting audiences of Hindustani classical music.

The release date of 1973 aligns with Khan’s active recording phase, though specific session details, production personnel, or alternate takes from the same period are not documented in public records. The album cover and liner notes, if originally included, are not described in accessible archives. Later reissues or digital remasters of this recording have not been verified.