Rāga: Puriyā Kalyan

Rāga: Puriyā Kalyān is a collaborative recording by sitarist Ravi Shankar and violinist Yehudi Menuhin released as part of the album West Meets East. The track appears as side A’s second piece (A2) on the original 1966 12\" vinyl LP issued by His Master’s Voice (HMV). The composition spans 11 minutes and 47 seconds, showcasing an improvisational exploration of the Puriyā Kalyān rāga within the Hindustani classical tradition.

The album marked a historic fusion of Indian and Western classical music, with Shankar performing on sitar and Menuhin on violin. The recording sessions captured their live interplay, blending Shankar’s ālāp-jor-jhālā development with Menuhin’s adaptive phrasing. The label credited both artists as co-performers, though Shankar led the rāga’s structural progression. The vinyl’s liner notes described the track as a dialogue between the two instrumental traditions, though specific session details remain partially undocumented.

West Meets East debuted in 1966 as a mono/stereo hybrid pressing, with later reissues adapting the track to digital formats. The original HMV release (catalog number ASD 2393) featured minimal post-production, preserving the acoustic resonance of the performance. No alternate takes or extended versions of this recording have been officially confirmed. The rāga’s inclusion on the album contributed to its recognition as a landmark in cross-cultural classical collaboration during the 1960s.