Thumri in Rag Misra Khamaj

Breath of the Rose is a studio album of North Indian classical vocal music released in 1993 by Water Lily Acoustics on CD. The recording features performances by Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, a prominent exponent of the Sham Chaurasia gharana in the khyal and thumri traditions.

The album includes a thumri set in Rag Misra Khamaj as its third track. The composition spans 7 minutes and 59 seconds and exemplifies the semi-classical thumri form, characterized by expressive melodic phrasing and lyrical themes often centered on devotion or romantic longing. The recording captures Khan’s vocal technique, including intricate taans (melodic runs) and nuanced meend (glissando) typical of his style.

Water Lily Acoustics produced the album with an emphasis on high-fidelity acoustic recording, a hallmark of the label’s catalog during the 1990s. The release date of 1993 places it within a period when Khan’s international collaborations and recordings contributed to broader recognition of Hindustani classical music outside South Asia. Additional details about the accompanying instrumentalists, recording location, or full tracklist remain undocumented in the provided context.

Khan’s rendition of the Misra Khamaj thumri on this album aligns with his reputation for blending technical rigor with emotional depth, a balance central to the Sham Chaurasia gharana’s interpretive approach. The track’s duration allows for extended improvisation within the thumri framework, a feature distinguishing it from shorter, lighter classical forms.