In this solo presentation, Murad Ali Khan pierces the soul with the dense, rich tonal quality of his sarangi He performs Raag Puriya Dhanashree, a twilight raga that is charted at dusk in the Hindustani time-theory of raga presentation.

Khan was diligently trained by his reclusive grandfather Ustad Siddiqui Ahmad Khan (born 1914) in the gayaki-ang – a lyrical method patterned after the human voice to present khayal. He plays a deeply expressive, leisurely style that demonstrates long, breathy flow of tonal sentences, rotund oscillating notes activated by a unique brand of energy and soul.

Kousic Sen gives a spirited accompaniment to the recital, precipitating the energetic parts with rumbling solos and underpinning the subdued moments with poised companionship.

With a consummate alaap (rhythm less introduction), Khan swiftly introduces Puria Dhanashree. His gentle movements radiate a somber glow, reflective of the reclusive personality of this masculine raga. Moving in luxuriant strides, his tonal sentences brim with notes and float on spacious structures alternately. He creates subtle shifts and surprising modulations, transforming the lissome, tightly packed phrases into stockier movements, ushering in the heroic, contemplative mood of Puria Dhanashree.

The first composition set to vilambit Ektaal is followed by two faster compositions in Teental and Ektaal. Through rigorous and lusty developments, Khan builds a candid, heart-wrenching yearning, bringing the recital to an ecstatic end.

Raag Puriya Dhanashree is based on Poorvi thaat. It is a sampurna raga that uses all swars in its ascent and descent. The vadi swar or dominant note is P and hence, all tonal activity is clustered around this note. The samvadi swar or sub-dominant note is Re. Puriya Dhanashree deploys komal Re (flat 2nd), komal Dha (flat 6th) and teevra Ma (sharp 4th). Its arohana and avarohana are as follows:

S, N.r G m P, m d N, m d S’

S’, N r’N d P, m G m r G, r S

Musicians

Murad Ali Khan (sarangi)

Kousic Sen (tabla)

Priya Parkash (tanpura)