Raga Malkauns: Madhyalay Gat in Teen Taal

Raga Malkauns: Madhyalay Gat in Teen Taal is a live instrumental recording by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The track appears as the third composition on the album India’s Maestro of Melody – Live Concert Vol. 1, released on an unspecified date in 1998 by the Kolkata-based label Chhanda Dhara. The album was issued in digital media format, though physical releases may also exist.

The performance spans 14 minutes and 18 seconds and showcases Banerjee’s interpretation of Raga Malkauns, a pentatonic raga associated with the late evening or night. The composition follows the madhyalay (medium tempo) gat structure in Teen Taal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The recording captures a live concert setting, emphasizing improvisational alaap-jor-jhala sections and intricate taans characteristic of Banerjee’s style.

The album India’s Maestro of Melody – Live Concert Vol. 1 compiles selections from Banerjee’s later performances, though the exact venue and date of this recording remain undocumented in available sources. The label Chhanda Dhara specialized in classical Indian music releases during the 1990s, often featuring archival and live material from prominent artists. No additional musicians or accompanying instrumentalists are credited for this track in the provided context.

Banerjee, a disciple of the Etah gharana and later the Maihar gharana under Allauddin Khan, developed a distinctive approach to raga elaboration marked by precise meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques. This recording exemplifies his mature phase, balancing traditional dhrupad-ang influences with the fluidity of the khayal style in instrumental rendition.