Raga Bhageshri

Raga Bhageshri (Jagdish Prasad, 2011) is a khayal performance recorded as the opening track of the album Shraddhanjali: Jagdish Prasad. Artist Jagdish Prasad rendered the composition in the late-night raga Bhageshri, a raga associated with the Kafi thaat and characterized by its use of komal ni and shuddha ma. The track spans 18 minutes and 11 seconds, featuring alap, jor, jhala, and a vilambit-laya bandish followed by a drut-laya section.

The album Shraddhanjali: Jagdish Prasad released on January 1, 2011, under the Saregama label. The primary format was Compact Disc, though digital distributions followed in subsequent years. Saregama categorized the release as part of its classical vocal series, emphasizing Prasad’s adherence to the Banaras gharana tradition. No accompanying instrumentalists or tabalchi details are documented in the available context.

Jagdish Prasad (dates unspecified) was a Hindustani classical vocalist trained in the Banaras gharana, known for his interpretations of semi-classical and devotional repertoires alongside traditional khayal. The album title Shraddhanjali (transl. ‘tribute’) suggests a commemorative or posthumous release, though the context does not confirm the circumstances. The tracklist beyond Raga Bhageshri remains unverified in the provided information.

The recording captures Prasad’s vocal phrasing with minimal accompaniment, typical of the gharana’s emphasis on bol-banaav (lyrical elaboration) and meend (glissando). The raga’s emotional resonance aligns with its traditional association with devotion and longing. Saregama’s production retained the live-recording ambiance, though studio specifics or session dates are not publicly detailed.