Raga Yaman
About Raga Yaman
Jewel of Jewels is a studio album of North Indian classical music released by sitarist Jagdish Prasad in 2012. The label Bihaan Music issued the recording in CD format. The album features traditional khayal-style renditions with an emphasis on raga exploration and instrumental virtuosity.
The second track, titled Raga Yaman, spans 19 minutes and 22 seconds. Prasad performs the raga in the evening thaat tradition, adhering to its characteristic ga-ma-dha-ni swara structure. The composition follows the vilambit and drut layakari framework typical of Yaman, with elaborations in alaap>, jor>, and jhala sections. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though the track aligns with standard tanpura and tabla support conventions for the genre.
The album title Jewel of Jewels reflects a thematic focus on raga as the central gem of Hindustani classical music. Bihaan Music promoted the release as part of its catalog dedicated to instrumental classical works, though specific production credits or session musicians are not publicly listed. The 2012 CD includes liner notes in English and Hindi, outlining the raga’s historical context and Prasad’s interpretive approach.
Jagdish Prasad trained under the Etah-Bishnupur gharana and later integrated elements of the Maihar gharana style, evident in his phrasing and meend techniques. Raga Yaman on this album exemplifies his adherence to gayaki ang (vocal-style playing) while maintaining the sitar’s distinct timbral qualities. No live performance recordings or alternate versions of this track have been confirmed from the same session.