Raga Lankesri

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan performed Raga Lankesri in a 1960s recording released under the Hindustani Vocal series by Sangeet Natak Akademi. The track appears as the first composition on a CD-format release, with a duration of 30 minutes and 54 seconds. Khan renders the raga in the Patiala gharana style, characterized by intricate taans, gamaks, and a command of layakari. The recording captures his signature vocal phrasing and the gradual unfolding of the raga’s vilambit and drut sections.

The album carries the Sangeet Natak Akademi label, a public institution established by the Government of India to preserve and promote performing arts. The release date of the specific CD remains undocumented in widely accessible sources, though the original performance likely occurred during Khan’s later career phase. No accompanying artists or instrumentalists are credited in the available metadata for this track.

Raga Lankesri belongs to the Kafi thaat and traditionally evokes a late-night or early-morning mood (sandhi prakash raga). Khan’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s distinctive use of komal gandhar and shuddha nishad, aligned with the gharana’s emphasis on emotional depth and technical precision. The recording stands as a reference for students of the Patiala tradition and remains a documented example of Khan’s live or studio renditions from the era.

Limited archival details exist regarding the production context of this release. The Sangeet Natak Akademi has historically issued recordings from its annual music festivals and commissioned studio sessions, but specific session dates, venue, or production personnel for this track are not publicly verified. The CD format suggests a later reissue, possibly compiled from analog master tapes of Khan’s performances.