Raga Mian-Ki-Malhar: Alap And Dhrupad, Ayi Hai Ghata Umad Ghumad : Chowtal

Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar is a studio album released in 1983 under the His Master’s Voice label. The recording features a solo performance by Nasir Aminuddin Dagar, a prominent exponent of the Dagarvani tradition in Dhrupad, the oldest surviving form of North Indian classical music. The album was issued on a 12\" vinyl format.

The album contains a single extended track titled Raga Mian-Ki-Malhar: Alap And Dhrupad, Ayi Hai Ghata Umad Ghumad : Chowtal. The composition opens with an alap, an unmetered improvisational section that explores the raga’s melodic contours. This transitions into a dhrupad rendition in Chowtal, a rhythmic cycle of 12 beats. The lyrics Ayi Hai Ghata Umad Ghumad evoke the monsoon season, a thematic element central to Raga Mian-Ki-Malhar, which belongs to the Malhar family of ragas traditionally associated with rain.

Nasir Aminuddin Dagar employs the rudra veena, a fretless lute-like instrument, as the primary accompaniment to his vocal performance. The recording captures the intricate microtonal nuances and sustained phrases characteristic of the Dagar bani style. The pakhawaj, a barrel-shaped drum, provides percussive support in the Chowtal section, maintaining the rhythmic framework while allowing for subtle improvisations.

The album serves as a documented example of Dagar’s interpretation of Raga Mian-Ki-Malhar, a raga attributed to the 16th-century musician Mian Tansen. The performance adheres to the structural conventions of Dhrupad, emphasizing textual clarity, meditative development, and a deep exploration of the raga’s emotional and seasonal associations. Additional details regarding the recording location, session musicians, or production personnel remain undocumented in available sources.