Raga: Sohini - Short Alap and Gat Teentaal

Nikhil Banerjee performed Raga Sohini as the third track on his 1989 album Sitar Recital. The recording features a short alap followed by a gat set in teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The composition spans 20 minutes and 5 seconds, showcasing Banerjee’s interpretation of the raga through intricate melodic development and rhythmic precision.

The album Sitar Recital was released under the Saregama label in CD format. The release date is documented as 1989, though specific day or month details remain unverified in available sources. Banerjee’s performance on this track exemplifies the Etawah Baj style of sitar playing, characterized by deep tonal resonance and elaborate meend (glissando) techniques.

Raga Sohini belongs to the Kafi thaat and is traditionally associated with late evening performances. Banerjee’s rendition adheres to the raga’s structural conventions, emphasizing the komal gandhar (flattened third) and komal nishad (flattened seventh) as its defining swaras. The accompanying teentaal composition reinforces the rhythmic framework while allowing for improvisational exploration.

No additional session musicians or accompanying artists are credited for this track in the provided context. The album’s production details, including recording location and engineering personnel, are not specified in available records. Sitar Recital forms part of Banerjee’s discography during the late 1980s, a period marked by his international tours and collaborations with other Indian classical instrumentalists.