Raga Jaunpuri: Vilambat And Drut Gat In Trital

Raga Jaunpuri: Vilambat And Drut Gat In Trital is a performance by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee released as part of the album Raga Jaunpuri / Raga Mand. The track appears as side A of the 1973 12\" vinyl record issued by His Master’s Voice (HMV).

The composition presents a rendition of Raga Jaunpuri, a raga from the Asavari thaat characterized by its use of komal nishad (flat seventh) and komal dhaivat (flat sixth). Banerjee performs the piece in two sections: a vilambat gat (slow tempo composition) followed by a drut gat (fast tempo composition), both set to trital, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The recording captures the intricate taans (melodic phrases) and meend (glissando) techniques central to Banerjee’s interpretation of the raga.

The album pairs this track with a second raga performance, Raga Mand, on side B. The vinyl format reflects the era’s standard for Indian classical music releases, with extended play durations accommodating the expansive alap-jor-jhala structure typical of instrumental recitals. No additional session musicians or accompanying artists are credited in the available documentation. The release date of 1973 aligns with Banerjee’s mid-career period, during which he gained recognition for his technical precision and adherence to the Senia-Maihar gharana tradition under the tutelage of Allauddin Khan.

The track exemplifies Banerjee’s approach to raga exposition, emphasizing clarity in note articulation and systematic development of the raga’s melodic framework. Further details regarding recording location, production personnel, or alternate takes remain undocumented in public sources.