Raga Bhatiyar (Drut Teentaal)

Raga Bhatiyar (Drut Teentaal) is a track performed by sitarist Nishat Khan as part of his 1991 album Sitar Recital (Raga Behag, Raga Bhatiyar). The composition appears as the second track on the release and showcases Khan’s interpretation of Raga Bhatiyar set to a drut (fast) tempo in Teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle common in North Indian classical music.

The album was released under the label EMI in CD format. It features two primary ragas, with Raga Behag and Raga Bhatiyar forming the core of the recital. Khan’s performance emphasizes the intricate melodic development and rhythmic precision characteristic of the Etawah gharana, a school of sitar playing associated with his lineage. The recording captures the improvisational alaap-jor-jhala structure followed by the composed gat in Teentaal, accompanied by tabla.

Nishat Khan, a seventh-generation musician from the Imdadkhani gharana, gained recognition for his technical virtuosity and adherence to traditional forms while incorporating contemporary elements. The 1991 release reflects his early career phase, where he established himself as a prominent exponent of the sitar in both classical and fusion contexts. Specific details about the accompanying artists or recording location remain undocumented in available sources.

The track exemplifies the khayal-influenced gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) on the sitar, a hallmark of Khan’s playing. The album’s production aligns with EMI’s series of Indian classical music recordings from the late 20th century, aimed at preserving and disseminating traditional performances in high-fidelity audio formats.