Raga: Darbari Kanada (Gat In Teentaal)

"Raga: Darbari Kanada (Gat In Teentaal)" is an instrumental track performed by sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan. The piece appears as the second track on the album The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan. His Master’s Voice released the album in 1968. The format is a 12-inch vinyl record.

Vilayat Khan presents the raga Darbari Kanada in this recording. Darbari Kanada belongs to the Kanada family of ragas in Hindustani classical music. The composition follows a medium-tempo gat set in Teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. Vilayat Khan executes the alap, jor, and jhala sections before transitioning into the gat. The performance adheres to traditional structures while incorporating Khan’s signature improvisational style.

The album The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan compiles select recordings from Vilayat Khan’s earlier performances. His Master’s Voice curated and released the compilation to showcase Khan’s virtuosity on the sitar. The label did not disclose the exact recording date or location for this track. The album includes other ragas and compositions, though specific details of additional tracks remain unconfirmed in available sources.

Vilayat Khan, born in 1928 in Gauripur, India, was a prominent exponent of the Imdadkhani gharana. He contributed significantly to the development of the sitar’s modern playing technique. His innovations included the use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) to enhance expressiveness. Khan’s recordings from the 1950s and 1960s established his reputation as a leading figure in Hindustani classical music.