Rag Jhinjhoti & Rag Pilu

Presented here is a pair of ragas from one of the preeminent families of Indian classical music. Ustad Imrat Khan performs on sitar, with son Vajahat on sarod and accompaniment from son Shafaatullah on tabla. As would be expected from someone with the title of Ustad, the music is performed beautifully. The interplay between the two lead instruments is definitely something worth hearing, as they progress through the jugalbandi (essentially a form of duet). "Rag Jhinjoti" is performed relatively straightforward, but with a surprise at the ending as the players gently fade out, instead of the more usual climactic ending phrasework. "Rag Pilu" is performed with an extra bit of darkness here, primarily due to Imrat's heavy play on the third. Eventually, a quick gat emerges to lift the mood of the piece, but only slightly. The ragas are performed poignantly here, with an extra treat coming from the duets between generations of string players in the same lineage.