Raga Nat Bhairav (Sitar): Vilambit Gat In Tintal

Raga Nat Bhairav (Sitar): Vilambit Gat In Tintal is a 2002 recording by sitarist Manilal Nag accompanied by tabla player Samir Chatterjee. The track appears as the third composition on the album Raga Nat Bhairav, released by India Archive Music in CD format. The performance spans 24 minutes and 30 seconds, featuring an alap-jor-jhala progression followed by a vilambit gat set to the 16-beat tintal rhythmic cycle.

The album centers on Raga Nat Bhairav, a morning raga derived from the Bhairav thaat. Manilal Nag interprets the raga with a structured development that emphasizes the komal re and komal dha swaras characteristic of the scale. Samir Chatterjee provides tabla accompaniment, maintaining the cyclical framework of tintal while incorporating improvisational variations. The recording captures a live studio session, though specific session details remain undocumented.

India Archive Music produced the album as part of its series on North Indian classical traditions. The label specializes in archival and contemporary recordings of Hindustani music, often featuring extended raga explorations. No additional musicians or production personnel are credited in available sources. The release date of 2002 aligns with Manilal Nag’s active period as a performer and educator in the gayaki ang style of sitar, influenced by vocal traditions.

The track exemplifies the vilambit gat form, where the melodic theme unfolds at a slow tempo to allow for intricate ornamentation. The composition’s structure adheres to classical conventions, with Nag’s sitar phrasing reflecting the raga’s meditative and expansive qualities. Chatterjee’s tabla responses include kayda and rela patterns that complement the sitar’s development. Further contextual details about the recording location or mastering process are not publicly accessible.