Raga Malkauns

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan performed Raga Malkauns in a 1960s recording released under the title Hindustani Vocal. The Sangeet Natak Akademi issued the work on compact disc in an unspecified year. The recording features Khan as the sole vocalist, accompanied by traditional instrumental support typical of the Khayal genre.

The track appears as the second composition on the album. It spans 26 minutes and 21 seconds, showcasing Khan’s interpretation of Raga Malkauns, a pentatonic raga associated with the late evening or early night raag-time tradition. The performance emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the komal gandhar (flattened third) and komal nishad (flattened seventh), aligned with the Kafi thaat framework.

The album Hindustani Vocal compiles Khan’s renditions under the Sangeet Natak Akademi label, an institution established by the Government of India to preserve and promote classical arts. The recording format and production details beyond the CD release remain undocumented in available sources. No additional musicians, such as tabla or tanpura accompanists, are credited in the provided context.

Khan’s rendition of Raga Malkauns reflects his Patiala gharana training, marked by intricate taan patterns, bol-banao, and a balance of technical precision with emotional depth. The track exemplifies his contribution to 20th-century Hindustani classical vocal music, though specific session dates or live performance origins are not confirmed.