Raga Bhairavi

Raga Bhairavi is a 1994 recording by Indian classical shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. The track appears as the third composition on the album Ragas Bhimpalasi, Khambaj & Bhairavi, released under the Chhanda Dhara label. The album adopts a traditional North Indian classical format, showcasing Khan’s mastery of the shehnai in three distinct ragas.

The recording of Raga Bhairavi spans 14 minutes and 8 seconds. Khan performs the raga in the late morning or early evening tradition, adhering to its prescribed thaat (Bhairavi thaat) and emotional depth. The composition follows the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections typical of classical alap-jor-jhala development, though specific structural details of this performance remain undocumented in available sources.

The album Ragas Bhimpalasi, Khambaj & Bhairavi was issued on CD in 1994. Chhanda Dhara, the producing label, specialized in classical Indian music recordings during this period. The release features two additional raga performances by Khan: Raga Bhimpalasi and Raga Khambaj. Accompanying artists, if any, are not credited in the primary release metadata.

Khan’s interpretation of Raga Bhairavi aligns with his broader repertoire, emphasizing the shehnai’s expressive capacity in shuddha (pure) and komal (flattened) notes. The track exemplifies his signature phrasing and breath control, though no live performance context or studio session details are publicly verified. The album remains a reference for students of the Benaras gharana, Khan’s affiliated musical lineage.