Raga Pahadi

Maestro’s Choice – Vishwa Mohan Bhatt is a studio album by Indian slide guitarist and Grammy Award winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. The album released in 2004 under an unspecified label, with the CD serving as the primary format. The recording showcases Bhatt’s interpretation of North Indian classical ragas, performed on the mohan veena, a modified archlute he designed for Hindustani music.

The third track, titled Raga Pahadi, spans 6 minutes and 12 seconds. The composition reflects the melodic structure of Raga Pahadi, a light classical raga often associated with the late evening or early night (sandhi prakash time). Bhatt employs the mohan veena to explore the raga’s pentatonic scale, characterized by the omission of the fourth (ma) and seventh (ni) swaras in ascent. The track adheres to the alaap-jor-jhala framework, a staple of instrumental Hindustani performances, though specific improvisational or rhythmic accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources.

The album title Maestro’s Choice suggests a curated selection of Bhatt’s repertoire, though no additional context confirms whether the tracks represent live recordings, studio sessions, or previously unreleased material. The release date and format align with Bhatt’s active period in the 2000s, during which he collaborated with international artists while maintaining a focus on traditional Indian classical forms. Further details regarding production personnel, accompanying musicians, or commercial reception are not publicly verified.