Raga Mangeyabushan

Raga Mangeyabushan is a studio recording of the Dhrupad genre performed by Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, a prominent exponent of the Dagarbani style. The track appears as side A of a 12\" vinyl record titled Raga Mangeyabushan, released in 1974 under the French label Disques Alvarès.

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar rendered the raga in the traditional alap-jor-jhala format, characteristic of Dhrupad. The performance showcases the deep, meditative exploration of Raga Mangeyabushan, a rare raga associated with the late evening or early night raag-varga. The recording captures the artist’s mastery of sustained tanpura drones and intricate melodic development without accompaniment, adhering to the aalaap tradition of Dhrupad.

The vinyl release contains a single extended track per side, with Raga Mangeyabushan occupying side A. The label Disques Alvarès, known for its catalog of Indian classical music in Europe during the 1970s, produced the album. No additional session musicians or instrumentalists are credited in the available documentation. The recording date and location remain undocumented in public sources.

This release exemplifies the solo vocal Dhrupad tradition, emphasizing swara (note) purity and rhythmic freedom. Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar’s interpretation reflects the Dagar family’s heritage, particularly their focus on nada yoga (sound meditation) and the Gundechha style of Dhrupad. The vinyl’s production quality and distribution contributed to the raga’s exposure in Western audiences during the era.

Further details about the recording sessions, alternate takes, or reissues are not widely verified. The original pressing remains a collector’s item for enthusiasts of Dhrupad and Indian classical vinyl records.