Raga: Bhoopali Vilambit Teentaal - Pratham Sur Saadhe

\"Raga: Bhoopali Vilambit Teentaal - Pratham Sur Saadhe\" is a 1970s recording of khayal in the raga Bhoopali by vocalist Kishori Amonkar. The performance spans 27 minutes and 56 seconds and adheres to the vilambit (slow) tempo of teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. Amonkar renders the composition in the traditional dhrupad-ang style, emphasizing sustained notes and intricate melodic phrasing characteristic of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, to which she belonged.

The recording captures a live or studio performance—exact session details remain undocumented. Amonkar begins with an alaap that explores the pentatonic structure of Bhoopali, gradually introducing the bandish (fixed composition) \"Pratham Sur Saadhe.\" The rendition progresses through bol-banaav (lyrical improvisation) and taan (fast melodic passages), showcasing her command over shruti (microtonal intonation) and layakari (rhythmic play). Accompaniment details, if any, are not specified in available sources.

The work was likely released under the HMV (His Master’s Voice) label, a dominant publisher of Indian classical music during the era. No official album title or catalog number is attached to this specific track, though it may appear in compilations of Amonkar’s performances. The recording exemplifies her interpretive approach to Bhoopali, a raga traditionally performed in the early evening and associated with devotion and serenity.

Notable aspects include Amonkar’s use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) to highlight the komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth), central to Bhoopali’s emotional resonance. The track’s duration allows for an extended exploration of the raga’s chalan (melodic movement), with the teentaal framework providing a structured yet flexible canvas for improvisation. Further metadata, such as the recording location or accompanying artists, is not publicly verified.