Raga Lalitadhvani: Alap-Jod-Jhala

Raga Lalitadhvani is a studio album by Indian classical sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, released on March 3, 1998. The recording features a single long-form composition in the raga Lalitadhvani, a rare and intricate raga associated with the late-night hours in the Hindustani classical tradition. The album was issued on compact disc by an unspecified label, with production details remaining undocumented in available sources.

The album consists of one track titled Raga Lalitadhvani: Alap-Jod-Jhala, spanning 25 minutes and 31 seconds. The performance follows the traditional three-part structure of instrumental rendition in Hindustani music: alap (unmetered melodic development), jor (rhythmic elaboration with gradual pulse introduction), and jhala (fast-paced percussive interplay). Khan accompanies himself on the sarod, though collaborating artists—such as a tabla player—are not credited in the provided context.

Amjad Ali Khan composed and performed the piece, adhering to the Lalitadhvani raga’s characteristic phrases and chalan (melodic movement). The raga belongs to the Kafi thaat and employs komal re (flattened second) and komal dha (flattened sixth) as its defining swaras. The recording captures Khan’s signature technique, including precise meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation), while the jhala section demonstrates his command of rhythmic complexity and stroke articulation.

The 1998 release marked one of Khan’s several explorations of lesser-performed ragas during the late 20th century. While the album’s commercial reception and distribution scope are not recorded, it contributes to his discography as a solo instrumental work. No reissues, alternate editions, or live versions of this specific recording have been verified in accessible archives.