Raga: Bageshree

Sultan Khan performed Raga Bageshree as the opening track on the 1988 album Sarangi: The Music of India. The recording spans 34 minutes and 44 seconds and showcases Khan’s mastery of the sarangi, a bowed string instrument central to Hindustani classical music. The album appeared under the Rykodisc label and was released in CD format.

The composition adheres to the structural conventions of Raga Bageshree, a late-evening raga in the Kafi thaat tradition. Khan’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the use of komal gandhar (flattened third) and shuddha nishad (natural seventh). The performance follows the standard alaap-jor-jhala progression before transitioning into a rhythmic section with tabla accompaniment. The accompanying artist on tabla remains uncredited in available sources.

Sarangi: The Music of India marked one of Khan’s early international releases, introducing global audiences to the sarangi as a solo instrument. The album’s production aligned with Rykodisc’s focus on world music during the late 1980s. No additional details about the recording location, session musicians, or production personnel are documented in the primary release materials.

The track exemplifies Khan’s ability to balance technical precision with emotional depth, a hallmark of his contributions to Hindustani classical music. Later reissues or digital remasters of the album do not appear in verified catalogs, and the original CD remains the sole confirmed format for this release.