Rāga mistra pilū: Ālāpa / Sitārkhānī gata (Ādhā)

Pandit Balaram Pathak performed Rāga mistra pilū: Ālāpa / Sitārkhānī gata (Ādhā) as the third track on the album Inde du Nord. The recording features a 22-minute-15-second exploration of the rāga in the ālāpa and sitārkhānī gat styles, rendered in the ādhā rhythmic cycle. The album was released in November 1987 by the French label Ocora in CD format.

The composition showcases Pathak’s interpretation of mistra pilū, a rāga associated with the North Indian classical tradition. The track begins with an unmetered ālāpa that gradually introduces the melodic framework, followed by a structured gat in the 16-beat ādhā tāla. The recording captures the instrumental interplay typical of the sitārkhānī style, though specific accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources.

Inde du Nord forms part of Ocora’s series on Indian classical music, curated to present regional traditions to international audiences. The album’s liner notes and production details emphasize field recordings and studio sessions from the 1980s, though the exact location and session musicians for this track are not specified. The release aligns with Ocora’s broader mission to archive and disseminate global folk and classical repertoires.

No additional editions, reissues, or alternate versions of this recording are confirmed in public records. The track stands as a representative example of Pathak’s work during the late 20th century, contributing to the documented repertoire of mistra pilū in Hindustani instrumental music.