Raga Malkauns (Sultal)

Berlin 1964 – The Lost Studio Recording is an archival release of a previously unreleased studio session by the Dagar brothers, Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar. The recording captures a 1964 performance in Berlin and was officially issued on March 1, 2024, by the Australian label Black Truffle in digital media format.

The album features a single track, Raga Malkauns (Sultal), spanning 22 minutes and 20 seconds. The composition exemplifies the Dhrupad tradition, a vocal genre within Hindustani classical music known for its meditative depth and emphasis on sustained tonal exploration. The Dagar brothers perform in the sultal style, a rhythmic cycle associated with the genre.

Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar belonged to the Dagarvani lineage, a prominent school of Dhrupad renowned for its rigorous adherence to traditional techniques. The 1964 session predates their wider international recognition, which grew through subsequent tours and recordings in the 1970s and 1980s. The release context of this recording remains partially undocumented, with Black Truffle providing no additional details on the session’s original purpose or production circumstances.

The 2024 edition includes no supplementary material or remastering notes. The label’s presentation focuses on the unaltered historical document, preserving the original recording’s acoustic characteristics. No further tracks, alternate takes, or session outtakes accompany the release.