Raga Maru Bihag, Khyal (part 1)

Girija Devi performed Raga Maru Bihag as a khyal composition in a 1993 studio recording. The track appears as the first piece on the album Songs from Varanasi, released by Nimbus Records in CD format. The recording spans 20 minutes and 27 seconds and showcases Devi’s interpretation of the raga in the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections, though specific taal or lyrical content remains undocumented in available sources.

The album Songs from Varanasi compiles classical and semi-classical vocal works associated with the Banaras gharana, a tradition Devi represented throughout her career. Nimbus Records produced the release as part of its series on Indian classical music, but the full tracklist, accompanying artists, or recording location are not specified in the provided context. Devi’s rendition of Maru Bihag aligns with her broader repertoire of khyal and thumri, though this particular recording focuses exclusively on the khyal form.

Girija Devi (1929–2017) established herself as a leading exponent of the Banaras gharana, known for her command of raga elaboration and emotive phrasing. The 1993 release reflects her mature artistic period, following decades of performances in India and abroad. Nimbus Records, a British label specializing in classical and world music, distributed the album internationally, contributing to the global dissemination of the Banaras vocal tradition. No reissues or alternate versions of this specific recording are documented in the given context.