Raga Prabhateshvari (Jhaptaal)

Raga Prabhateshvari (Jhaptaal) is a classical Hindustani instrumental composition performed by flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia. The track appears as the opening piece (A1) on the 1970 album Flute Recital, released by His Master’s Voice in a 12\" vinyl format.

The recording showcases Chaurasia’s interpretation of Raga Prabhateshvari, a morning raga traditionally associated with the Bhairav thaat. The performance adheres to the jhaptaal rhythmic cycle, a 10-beat taal commonly used in North Indian classical music. The composition follows the conventional alaap-jor-jhala structure before transitioning into the rhythmic section, accompanied by tabla and tanpura.

The album Flute Recital marks an early commercial release in Chaurasia’s discography, documenting his evolving style during the 1970s. The label His Master’s Voice (HMV), a subsidiary of EMI, produced the recording in India. Production details such as recording location, session musicians, and engineering credits remain undocumented in widely available sources.

Chaurasia’s rendition of Raga Prabhateshvari exemplifies his technical command of the bansuri, particularly in phrasing and breath control. The track spans approximately 20–25 minutes, typical of full-length raga expositions on vinyl releases of the era. No alternate takes or live versions of this specific recording have been officially cataloged.

The 1970 pressing of Flute Recital circulated primarily in the Indian subcontinent, with later reissues in cassette and CD formats under varying labels. The original vinyl release included liner notes, though authorship and content specifics are not preserved in public archives. The album cover features minimalist design elements, consistent with HMV’s classical music releases of the period.