Raga Sawani

Raga Sawani is a recording of the Hindustani classical khayal tradition performed by vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur. The track captures a live or studio rendition of Raga Sawani, a melodic framework associated with the late evening or early night raag repertoire in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style, which Mansur represented as a leading exponent. The performance spans 17 minutes and 56 seconds.

The recording date and original release format remain undocumented in widely accessible sources. Mansur’s interpretation of Raga Sawani typically features the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) sections, with elaborate alaap and taan passages that emphasize the raga’s characteristic phrases. The composition likely includes traditional bandish (fixed melodic compositions) set to a rhythmic cycle such as Ektal (12 beats) or Jhaptal (10 beats), though specific tala details for this recording are unverified. Accompaniment instruments, if present, would conventionally include the tabla for percussion and the tanpura for drone support, though the exact accompanying artists are not confirmed in available references.

Mansur’s renditions of Raga Sawani are noted for their emotional depth and adherence to the gharana’s stylistic rigor, often exploring the raga’s shuddha dhaivat (pure sixth) and komal nishad (flattened seventh) swaras. The recording may have been issued by a label such as HMV (His Master’s Voice) or Music Today, both of which released Mansur’s works during his active years, though the precise label and catalog number for this version are not specified in public records. No widely recognized commercial album or compilation explicitly lists this 17:56 performance, suggesting it may originate from a private recording, archival collection, or lesser-documented release.

Mallikarjun Mansur (1910–1992) received the Padma Bhushan (1976) and Padma Vibhushan (1992) for his contributions to Indian classical music. His recordings of Raga Sawani and other rare ragas remain reference points for the Jaipur-Atrauli tradition. Further details on this specific performance, including session musicians, recording location, or reissue history, require verification from primary archival sources.