Raga Mand-Bhairav - Alap

"Raga Mand-Bhairav – Alap" is a classical Indian instrumental track performed by sitar maestro Vilayat Khan. The piece appears as the first track on the album Enchanting All The Way, released in 1980. His Master’s Voice issued the recording on a 12-inch vinyl format.

Vilayat Khan performs the alap section of Raga Mand-Bhairav, a morning raga that blends the characteristics of Mand and Bhairav. The alap is an introductory movement in Indian classical music, marked by slow, meditative exploration of the raga’s notes without rhythmic accompaniment. Khan employs meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques to articulate the raga’s microtonal nuances.

The track exemplifies the Imdadkhani gharana style, a school of sitar playing founded by Khan’s ancestors. Vilayat Khan’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s serene and contemplative mood, gradually unfolding its melodic structure. The recording captures the unaccompanied sitar, allowing the instrument’s tonal depth and Khan’s improvisational skill to remain the focal points.

No additional musicians are credited on this track. The release date and label information for Enchanting All The Way are documented, but further details about the recording session or album personnel are not publicly available.