Raga Nand

Raga Nand is a recording of Hindustani classical vocal music performed by Mallikarjun Mansur, a prominent exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. The performance captures a khayal composition in Raga Nand, a rare and melodically intricate raga associated with the late-night or early-morning prahara in the Hindustani tradition. The recording spans a duration of 14 minutes and 23 seconds.

The artist presents the raga with a structured progression, beginning with a measured alap that explores the raga’s contours, followed by a bandish (composition) rendered in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempos. Mansur’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the use of komal re (flattened second) and teevra ma (sharp fourth), while adhering to the gharana’s stylistic emphasis on bol-taan (rhythmic syllable patterns) and layered improvisation. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though traditional khayal performances of this era typically featured harmonium, tabla, and tanpura.

The release year, label, and original format of the recording are not specified in accessible references. The track stands as an example of Mansur’s mature artistry, recorded during his later career when he was widely recognized for his command over rare ragas and his ability to blend technical precision with emotional depth. Notable aspects of the performance include the elaboration of the antara (second stanza) and the use of sargam taan (sol-fa patterns) in the faster sections.

Mallikarjun Mansur (1910–1992) received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1966 and the Padma Bhushan in 1982 for his contributions to Indian classical music. His recordings, including this rendition of Raga Nand, are often cited in discussions of 20th-century Jaipur-Atrauli gharana vocalism. Further metadata, such as the recording location or session musicians, is not publicly verified.