Raga Darbari: Vilambit in Jhoomra & Drut in Teentaal

Pannalal Ghosh performed Raga Darbari as the opening track on the 1990 cassette release Flute Pioneer. The label His Master’s Voice issued the recording in an analog format. The composition unfolds in two sections: a vilambit (slow) exposition set to Jhoomra taal followed by a drut (fast) development in Teentaal.

The track showcases Ghosh’s adaptation of the bansuri (North Indian bamboo flute) as a solo instrument in Hindustani classical music. The recording captures his signature phrasing and breath control, characteristics that defined his influence on subsequent generations of flutists. The album title Flute Pioneer reflects his role in elevating the bansuri’s status from a folk or accompaniment instrument to a concert-stage lead.

His Master’s Voice released the cassette as part of its classical music catalog, though specific production details such as recording location or session dates remain undocumented in publicly available sources. The track listing designates this performance as Side A’s first entry, but no further metadata about additional tracks or total runtime exists in the provided context.

Ghosh’s interpretation of Raga Darbari adheres to the raga’s traditional shuddha dhaivat (natural sixth) and komal gandhar (flattened third) structure, emphasizing the raga’s gravitas and meditative quality. The Jhoomra taal section employs a 14-beat cycle, while the Teentaal portion shifts to a 16-beat framework, a common progression in khayal-based instrumental performances of the era.

The 1990 release date places the album in the late phase of Ghosh’s career, as he passed away in 1960. This suggests the recording derives from archival material, possibly remastered or recompiled for the cassette format. No liner notes or original session documentation accompany the provided context to confirm the performance’s exact provenance.