Raga Nat Bhairav

Raga Nat Bhairav is a classical instrumental composition performed by Pandit Bhajan Sopori on the santoor. The track appears as the second piece in the album Santoor Recital. Released in an unspecified year, the recording spans 29 minutes and 28 seconds, showcasing Sopori’s interpretation of the morning raga within the Hindustani classical tradition.

The album Santoor Recital features Sopori as the primary artist, accompanied by an uncredited ensemble typical of classical performances, though specific collaborator details remain undocumented. The format of the release is not explicitly stated, but the duration and structure suggest a live or studio recording intended for LP, cassette, or digital distribution. No label information is available in the provided context.

Raga Nat Bhairav belongs to the Bhairav thaat and is traditionally performed in the early morning. Sopori’s rendition adheres to the raga’s characteristic alap-jor-jhala progression, followed by a rhythmic section in a medium-to-fast taal. The track emphasizes the santoor’s resonant, struck-string timbre, a hallmark of Sopori’s style. Further details on the recording session, production personnel, or additional tracks on the album are not confirmed in the available context.

Pandit Bhajan Sopori (1948–2022) was a prominent exponent of the sufiana gharana of Kashmiri classical music and a key figure in popularizing the santoor as a solo instrument in Hindustani concerts. His contributions to the genre include innovations in technique and repertoire, though this specific recording’s reception or historical significance is not detailed in the provided information.