Slow Tin-Tal

\"Slow Tin-Tal\" is a composition performed by tabla virtuoso Mahapurush Misra. The track appears as the second piece on side A of the 1966 album Indian Drums. Released on May 1966 by the Connoisseur Society label, the album was issued as a 12\" vinyl LP and showcases Misra’s mastery of North Indian classical percussion.

The track spans 9 minutes and 26 seconds and exemplifies the tin-tal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle fundamental to Hindustani classical music. Misra employs traditional tabla techniques with intricate bol (syllabic) patterns and layered improvisations. The recording captures the acoustic resonance of the instruments with minimal post-production, adhering to the era’s preference for live-like studio sessions.

Indian Drums stands as one of Misra’s early international releases, introducing Western audiences to the intricacies of Indian rhythmic structures. The album features solo tabla performances alongside accompaniment by an unspecified tanpura artist, though detailed session credits remain undocumented in available sources. The Connoisseur Society, known for audiophile pressings, distributed the record in limited quantities, targeting collectors of world music and classical recordings.

No commercial reissues or digital remasters of Indian Drums have been officially confirmed. The original vinyl pressing includes liner notes by an unnamed author, providing context on Misra’s lineage in the Banaras gharana (school) of tabla playing. The track’s title reflects its deliberate tempo, contrasting with faster compositions in the same tal framework.