Raga Bhairawi

Raga Bhairawi (D2) is a recording of North Indian classical music featured on the 1968 album Raga-Musik Aus Indien • Music From India. The Deutsche Grammophon label released the work on a 12\" vinyl format. The track presents a rendition of Raga Bhairawi, a morning raga in the Hindustani tradition characterized by its use of the komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) scales.

Kartick Kumar performed the primary vocal interpretation. S.V. Patwardhan accompanied on the tabla, providing rhythmic support. Rajaram contributed on the tanpura, sustaining the drone foundation essential to the raga’s tonal structure. The recording captures a live or studio performance, though the exact session date and location remain undocumented in available sources. The album compiled multiple raga performances under a single release, targeting Western audiences during a period of growing international interest in Indian classical music.

The track numbering system on the vinyl assigned Raga Bhairawi the identifier D2, indicating its position on the second side of the disc. Deutsche Grammophon marketed the album as part of its world music series, pairing it with liner notes that introduced listeners to the theoretical and cultural context of raga music. No alternate versions or reissues of this specific recording appear in public records, though the artists involved contributed to other classical releases in subsequent decades.

Kartick Kumar established a career as a vocalist in the khayal tradition, while S.V. Patwardhan gained recognition as a tabla accompanist for several prominent Hindustani musicians. Rajaram’s role as a tanpura player aligned with the supportive function typical of the instrument in ensemble settings. The collaboration on this track reflects the conventional trio format of vocal, percussion, and drone in Hindustani classical performances.