Raga Bhimpalashri: Jhap-Tala

North India: Instrumental Music: Rudra Veena, Vichitra Veena, Sarod, Shahnai is a studio album released in 1989 under the Auvidis label. The recording features traditional Hindustani classical instruments in a collection of raga-based performances. The primary format of the release is compact disc (CD).

The second track on the album is a rendition of Raga Bhimpalasi set to Jhap-Tala. The performance spans 12 minutes and 15 seconds. Asad Ali Khan performs on the rudra veena, accompanied by Gopal Krishan on the vichitra veena and Ashok Roy on the sarod. The track exemplifies the slow, meditative alaap-jor-jhala structure characteristic of the Dhrupad style, followed by a rhythmic exposition in the chosen tala. The recording captures the intricate interplay between the deep, resonant tones of the rudra veena and the sliding, microtonal expressions of the vichitra veena, with the sarod providing melodic contrast.

The album title directly references the four featured instruments: the rudra veena, vichitra veena, sarod and shahnai. While the shahnai is listed in the title, its presence or specific tracks involving the instrument remain undocumented in available sources. The release date of 1989 aligns with a period of renewed international interest in North Indian classical music, with Auvidis—then a French label specializing in world and classical traditions—distributing the recording in European markets.

Asad Ali Khan (1937–2011) belonged to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana and was a leading exponent of the rudra veena, an ancient fretless lute with deep cultural significance in Dhrupad. Gopal Krishan (dates unspecified) contributed on the vichitra veena, a slide instrument adapted for Hindustani classical music. Ashok Roy (dates unspecified) represented the sarod, a prominent melodic instrument in the Senia-Maihar gharana tradition. The collaboration between these artists on this album reflects the cross-gharana interactions common in 20th-century classical recordings.

No additional details regarding the recording location, production personnel or liner notes are available from the provided context. The album serves as a documented example of late 20th-century Hindustani instrumental ensembles, emphasizing the rudra veena’s role in raga elaboration.