Raga Maru Vihag

Raga Maru Vihag is a composition performed by bansuri exponent G.S. Sachdev on the 1976 album Bansuri – The Indian Flute. The track appears as the opening piece (A1) on the original 12\" vinyl release issued by Philips in India. Sachdev renders the raga in the Hindustani classical tradition, employing the bamboo flute as the primary instrument. The recording captures the alap-jor-jhala structure characteristic of instrumental khayal presentations, though specific session details or accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources.

The album Bansuri – The Indian Flute showcases Sachdev’s interpretation of North Indian classical ragas, with Raga Maru Vihag serving as a representative example of his mid-1970s work. The raga belongs to the Bilawal thaat and is traditionally performed during the late evening. Philips produced the vinyl in a standard 33⅓ RPM format, typical for classical music releases of the era. No digital reissues or expanded editions of this specific recording have been officially confirmed, and the original liner notes—if included—provide limited technical or contextual annotation.

G.S. Sachdev (1936–2021) established himself as a prominent bansuri player through collaborations with All India Radio and international concert tours. His 1976 Philips release reflects the period’s emphasis on solo instrumental albums, with Raga Maru Vihag exemplifying his control over meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques. The track duration and exact recording location are not specified in archival references, though the album’s production aligns with Philips’ catalog of Indian classical music during the 1970s.