Raga Bhairavin: Taal Dadra

Raga Bhairavin: Taal Dadra is a Hindustani classical instrumental recording by santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma. The performance was released in 1991. It features a rendition of Raga Bhairavin set to Dadra taal, a rhythmic cycle of six beats. The recording spans 11 minutes and 13 seconds.

Shivkumar Sharma performs the santoor, a hammered dulcimer with 100 strings, which he adapted for Hindustani classical music. The piece follows the traditional structure of a raga performance, beginning with an alap, a slow, unmetered exploration of the raga’s melodic framework. Sharma gradually introduces the rhythmic cycle of Dadra taal, transitioning into a composed gat, or fixed melody, accompanied by improvisational passages.

The recording captures the characteristic morning mood of Raga Bhairavin, a variant of Raga Bhairav. Sharma emphasizes the raga’s defining notes, including the komal re (flat second) and komal dha (flat sixth), while maintaining the serene and devotional atmosphere associated with the raga. The performance demonstrates the santoor’s capacity for both lyrical expression and rhythmic complexity.

The label for the release is not specified in the available context. The track is part of Sharma’s extensive discography, which includes numerous recordings of Hindustani classical music, fusion collaborations, and film soundtracks. Raga Bhairavin: Taal Dadra remains a notable example of his contributions to the santoor repertoire.