Raga: Hem bihag

Raga: Hem Bihag is a live instrumental recording of the Hindustani classical raga Hem Bihag. Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Alla Rakha performed the piece. The performance took place in 1967 during a concert at the Monterey Pop Festival in California, United States. The recording captures a collaborative alap, jor, jhala, and gat sections typical of the dhrupad and khyal traditions.

Ravi Shankar plays the sitar, Ali Akbar Khan plays the sarod, and Alla Rakha plays the tabla. The artists present Hem Bihag in a slow to medium tempo, emphasizing the raga’s characteristic melodic movements. Hem Bihag belongs to the Kafi thaat and features a pentatonic ascent (aaroh) and a heptatonic descent (avroh). The artists explore the raga’s mood, which evokes tranquility and devotion, through extended improvisation.

The recording has a duration of 25 minutes and 19 seconds. The performance begins with an unaccompanied alap, where Shankar and Khan introduce the raga’s notes and phrases. The jor section follows, introducing rhythmic pulse without tabla. Alla Rakha joins in the jhala section, adding percussive intensity. The gat section features composed melodic lines and rhythmic interplay between the sitar, sarod, and tabla. The artists conclude with a fast-paced jhala, showcasing technical virtuosity.

The recording does not list a specific label. It circulates in various formats, including vinyl, CD, and digital releases, often as part of compilations or archival collections. The MusicBrainz Identifier (MBID) for this recording is 722542fb-27ac-49ff-8807-66f7f2aa04b2. The exact release date of the recording remains unverified in available sources.