Raga Shuddha Todi

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, of the famous gharana of dhrupad singers, is one of the few members of the family to take up instrumentalism. Incidentally, this recording came from the same sessions as that of another Nimbus release, Raga Yaman. He still plays his instrument of choice, the rudra vina, in a vocal style, to comply with the basic sense of humanity that takes part in all of India's musical instruments. This recording of "Raga Shuddha Todi," one of the Todi grouping of ragas, and regarded as the leading one of the group, showcases the artist's form of expression that makes use of a systematic exploration through the notes of the raga in a rather orthodox style during the alap, but still manages to show some amazing beauty in the process. One highlight of the recording would most likely be the virtuosity displayed on his gamak style (a shaking note possible almost only on large zithers such as the rudra vina). Fans of Indian classical would be delighted at the recording, though others might be put off by the hour-long single-work performance.