Imrat Khan - Rag Miyaki Todi/Bilaskhani Todi

The current master of the surbahar, Ustad Imrat Khan played but two songs on this album (though in Indian Classical music, that's a relatively common length for songs). Both of the ragas used on the album are from the Todi group, a group of morning ragas that involve, among other things, a certain avoidance of the fifth note of the scale. The first work is Rag Miya ki Todi (Miya's Todi), written by Miya Tansen, a great musician at the court of 16th century Mughal emperor Akbar. In a semi-traditional maneuver (traditional for players of adaptability as high as Imrat Khan), Khan switches instruments partway through the raga to take up the sitar and a higher tempo. Read More