Raga Asavari

Raga Asavari (Khayal Madhyalaya in Teentala) is a khayal performance by Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The track appears as the opening piece on the 1995 compilation Maestro’s Choice Series 2 – Bhimsen Joshi, released by Living Media India in digital media format. The recording spans 15 minutes and 1 second, showcasing Joshi’s interpretation of Raga Asavari set to a medium-tempo (madhyalaya) composition in teentala, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle.

Joshi renders the khayal with characteristic depth in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections, emphasizing the raga’s komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) swaras. The performance adheres to the Gwalior gharana tradition while incorporating Joshi’s signature vocal phrasing and taan patterns. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though standard khayal ensembles typically include harmonium, tabla, and tanpura.

The album Maestro’s Choice Series 2 – Bhimsen Joshi forms part of a curated collection highlighting Joshi’s recordings across his career. Living Media India issued the release in 1995, though the original recording date of this track is not specified in public records. The compilation targets audiences of Hindustani classical music, featuring Joshi’s renditions of traditional ragas in live or studio settings.

Joshi (1922–2011) received widespread acclaim for his contributions to the khayal genre, including awards such as the Bharat Ratna (2008) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (1976). This performance of Raga Asavari exemplifies his command over raga development and improvisational techniques within the teentala framework.