Raga Madkauns

Raga Madkauns is a 1995 studio recording by Pakistani classical vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. The track appears as the opening piece on the album Raga Madkauns, Raga Suha Kanada, Raga Verag Todi, Raga Kalavati, released by Nimbus Records in compact disc format. The performance spans 15 minutes and 7 seconds, showcasing Khan’s interpretation of the raga in the khayal style of Hindustani classical music.

The album captures four distinct raga performances, with Raga Madkauns positioned as the first track. Khan renders the composition in the traditional vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempos, accompanied by instrumental support typical of classical khayal presentations. The recording session’s exact location and accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources.

Ustad Salamat Ali Khan (1934–2001) belonged to the Sham Chaurasia gharana and gained recognition for his command over intricate taans (melodic improvisations) and emotive phrasing. The 1995 release forms part of Nimbus Records’ series on North Indian classical music, though specific production details or reissue history for this album are not widely published. The tracklist also includes Raga Suha Kanada, Raga Verag Todi, and Raga Kalavati, each representing a separate raga exploration by Khan.

The CD format release aligns with the label’s focus on high-fidelity recordings of traditional performances. No alternate versions or live renditions of this particular Raga Madkauns recording by Khan are confirmed in archival references. The album serves as a documented example of his late-career work, preserving his approach to the Madkauns raga within the broader dhrupad-ang khayal tradition.