Raga : Yaman - Part 3 (Druta Laya)

Raga Yaman – Part 3 (Druta Laya) is a Hindustani classical instrumental track by sitar maestro Vilayat Khan. The recording appears as the second side (track B2) of the 1972 album Raga Yaman. His Master’s Voice released the album on a 12-inch vinyl record.

Vilayat Khan performs the druta laya (fast tempo) section of Raga Yaman in this 11-minute and 29-second rendition. The track follows the traditional structure of a vilambit (slow) alap, jor, and jhala progression before transitioning into the druta gat. Khan employs the sitar’s characteristic meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques to elaborate the raga’s ascending and descending phrases.

The composition adheres to the Yaman thaat, emphasizing the shuddha (natural) notes with a prominent use of the teevra (sharp) Ma (fourth). Khan’s improvisations highlight the raga’s characteristic phrases, including the nyas (resting) notes on Ga (third) and Ni (seventh). The druta laya section features rhythmic interplay with the tabla, though the tabla player’s name is not specified in the available context.

The 1972 release of Raga Yaman contributed to the broader dissemination of Vilayat Khan’s interpretations of classical ragas. His Master’s Voice, a subsidiary of EMI, distributed the album in India and internationally. The recording remains a reference for students and practitioners of Hindustani classical music studying the Yaman raga and Khan’s stylistic approach.