Raga Sampurna Malkauns

Raga Sampurna Malkauns is a track performed by Baluji Shrivastav on the dilruba, a bowed string instrument of North Indian classical music. The composition appears as the fourth track on the album The Art of the Indian Dilruba, released on January 1, 1997 by ARC Music in CD format. The recording spans 20 minutes and 57 seconds, showcasing an extended exploration of the raga within the Hindustani classical tradition.

The album positions the dilruba as a solo instrument, with Shrivastav interpreting Raga Sampurna Malkauns, a variant of the parent Malkauns raga that incorporates all seven notes (sampurna) in its ascending and descending scales. The performance adheres to the alaap-jor-jhala structure typical of instrumental classical renditions, though specific compositional details or accompanying artists remain undocumented in available sources. The track exemplifies Shrivastav’s approach to gayaki ang, a vocal-style phrasing technique adapted for instrumental play.

The Art of the Indian Dilruba serves as one of the early commercial recordings dedicated exclusively to the dilruba, an instrument historically overshadowed by the sitar and sarod in global classical music dissemination. ARC Music, a UK-based label specializing in world music, produced the album as part of its catalog focusing on traditional and folk expressions. The release date aligns with Shrivastav’s period of international performance and recording activity during the 1990s, though further context about the session’s location or production team is not publicly verified.

No additional tracks from the album share the same raga, and the liner notes—if included in the original CD packaging—do not circulate in digital archives. The recording remains a reference for students of the dilruba and enthusiasts of lesser-documented Indian classical instruments, with Raga Sampurna Malkauns often cited as a highlight of Shrivastav’s discography for its technical and expressive depth.