Raga: Gaud Malhar: Vilambit Teental

Raga: Gaud Malhar (Vilambit Teental) is a 1970s recording of the Hindustani classical raga Gaud Malhar performed by vocalist Kishori Amonkar. The composition follows the vilambit (slow) tempo in Teental, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The performance spans 22 minutes and 47 seconds.

Amonkar presents the raga in the traditional khayal style, emphasizing intricate melodic elaboration (badhat) and improvisational passages (taans). The recording captures her signature approach to Gaud Malhar, characterized by deep emotional expression and a deliberate exploration of the raga’s shuddha dhaivat (pure sixth) and komal nishad (flattened seventh) swaras. The accompaniment includes a harmonium for melodic support and a tabla for rhythmic structure, though specific accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources.

The release format and label are not explicitly confirmed, but the recording circulated through private collections and later appeared on compilation albums dedicated to Amonkar’s work. The track exemplifies her contribution to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, blending its technical rigor with her personal interpretive style. No commercial release date or catalog number is verified, though the performance aligns with her active period between the 1960s and 1980s.

Notable sections include the extended alap introduction, where Amonkar develops the raga’s mood through gradual note progression, and the subsequent jod and jhala phases that intensify the rhythmic interplay. The composition adheres to the traditional two-part khayal structure (sthayi and antara), with Amonkar’s improvisations highlighting the raga’s association with the monsoon season in Indian classical aesthetics.