Raga Multani

Ragas Yaman-Kalyan, Multani is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The label His Master’s Voice released the recording in 1967 on a 12\" vinyl format. The album features two raga performances, with the second track presenting Raga Multani as the centerpiece.

Bhimsen Joshi rendered Raga Multani in the khayal style, adhering to the traditions of the Kirana gharana. The composition follows the slow vilambit and medium-tempo madhyalaya sections typical of classical bandish presentations. The recording captures Joshi’s characteristic vocal phrasing, marked by deep tonal resonance and intricate taan patterns. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though the format suggests standard tabla and tanpura support.

The album’s release date of 1967 aligns with Joshi’s mid-career period, during which he consolidated his reputation as a leading exponent of the Kirana tradition. His Master’s Voice, a prominent Indian label under the EMI group, produced the vinyl under catalog numbering conventions of the era. The physical release included liner notes, though their authorship and specific content are not preserved in public records.

Raga Multani on this album serves as a representative example of Joshi’s interpretation of the raga, which belongs to the Todi thaat and is traditionally performed during the late evening. The track’s duration spans the B side of the vinyl in its entirety, reflecting the extended improvisational structure of classical Hindustani music. No alternate takes or live versions from this session are confirmed in archival references.

Later reissues or digital remasters of the album are not verified in accessible documentation. The original 1967 pressing remains the primary reference for this recording, cited in discographies of Bhimsen Joshi’s work and historical surveys of 20th-century Hindustani classical music.