Raga Shudha Kedar

Raga Shudha Kedar is a khayal performance by Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The track appears as the opening piece on the album The Multifaceted, released on 1991 by The Gramophone Company of India Limited (now Saregama). The recording spans 18 minutes and 30 seconds and was issued in CD format.

The composition adheres to Raga Shudha Kedar, a raga from the Kedar family characterized by its use of shuddha dhaivat (natural D) and shuddha nishad (natural N) in descent. Joshi renders the raga in the traditional khayal style, employing vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempos. The performance includes alaap, jor, and jhala sections followed by a composed bandish (lyrical composition) set to a rhythmic cycle. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though standard Hindustani ensembles typically feature tabla and tanpura.

The Multifaceted compiles selections from Joshi’s repertoire, showcasing his interpretations across multiple ragas. The album title reflects his versatility in rendering diverse classical forms, including khayal, bhajan, and devotional compositions. The Gramophone Company of India Limited produced the release as part of its classical music catalog during the early 1990s transition to digital formats.

No additional metadata regarding recording location, session musicians, or lyrical content is publicly verified. The track stands as a representative example of Joshi’s mature style, marked by his command of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques. Later reissues or remasters of The Multifaceted may exist, but original pressings carry the 1991 copyright under the specified label.