Raag Shruti Vardhani

Musicians:
- Sarwar Hussain Khan (sarangi)
- Debjit Patitundi (tabla)

Let's journey back in time to Darbar Festival 2023 when we were graced by the exceptional talent of Sarwar Hussain Khan.

Khan was born into an illustrious sarangi family. The son of Ustad Anwar Hussain and grandson of stalwart, Ustad Abdul Latif Khan Sahab, Khan has developed a style which gives the audience deeply stirring and richly coloured sounds. This is his UK debut performance where he will present his unique style of playing tappa, one of the most difficult forms of singing that is reproduced by his sarangi. Tappa was developed by Rajasthani folk musicians, who while riding on camels created an undulating sound as their bodies moved up and down, thereby creating this unique style. Khan is accompanied by the vibrant young tabla player, Patitundi, student of the late Pandit Subhankar Banerjee.  

Raag Shurti Vardhani is a relatively lesser-known raga in Indian classical music. It is a **Hindustani** raga, and like many other ragas, it evokes specific emotional tones and is associated with a particular time of day or mood.

Shurti in the name refers to the concept of *intonation* or *musical intervals*, suggesting a raga that emphasizes subtle and delicate pitch variations, potentially focusing on microtones, or "shruti" in the traditional Indian sense.

Vardhani often translates to "that which gives growth" or "enhances." In a musical sense, it could imply a raga that gradually evolves and grows in emotional intensity as it progresses, enhancing the listener's connection with its sound.

Raag Shurti Vardhani may not be as widely performed or recognized as other classical ragas, but it carries a potential for emotional depth and a unique way of playing with the finer nuances of sound and rhythm. It might appeal to those interested in the more intricate aspects of raga performance, particularly in terms of tone production and pitch modulation.

It would be important to seek out performances or renditions of this raga by expert musicians to fully experience its potential, as with many rare or lesser-performed ragas.

Recorded at Darbar Festival 2023, on 27th October, at the Barbican Centre, London.