Raga Momomanjeri

Raga Momomanjeri is a 23-minute-15-second instrumental composition performed by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The track appears as the opening piece (side A) on the album Le Sitar De Nikhil Banerjee, released in 1976 by the French label Disques Espérance.

The recording captures Banerjee’s interpretation of Raga Momomanjeri, a rare and lesser-documented raga in the Hindustani classical tradition. The performance adheres to the alaap-jor-jhala structure, followed by a rhythmic exposition in teen taal (16-beat cycle). Banerjee accompanies himself on the sitar, with tabla support provided by an uncredited artist. The album was issued as a 12\" vinyl LP, pressed and distributed primarily in Europe.

Le Sitar De Nikhil Banerjee marks one of Banerjee’s few international releases during the 1970s, targeting Western audiences through Disques Espérance, a label specializing in world music and classical traditions. The recording session’s location and production personnel remain undocumented in available sources. The album cover features a photograph of Banerjee in performance, with liner notes written in French.

Banerjee’s rendition of Raga Momomanjeri exemplifies his signature gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) and precise meend (glissando) technique. The track’s extended duration permits elaborate development of the raga’s ascending and descending phrases, with emphasis on the komal re (flattened second) and tivra ma (sharp fourth) intervals. No commercial reissues or digital remasters of this specific recording have been confirmed as of the latest available data.