Top 12 Hindustani Classical Records To Have In Your Record Collection | TRC Listening Guide

Experience a sense of Moksha through these priceless recordings conceived by some of the exceptional artists putting on unmatched performances from the sphere of Indian Classical music.

Presenting a listening guide for the Top 12 Hindustani Classical (vinyl) albums:

1) Call of the Valley - Shivkumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra

As the name suggests, Call of the Valley transports you to the fresh green pastures, lilting crystalline rivers & air full of nourishment of the Kashmiri mountains. Composed by a trio of Indian classical maestros: Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, a name synonymous with Kashmiri folk instrument Santoor; Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, the virtuoso flautist in the Hindustani tradition & Pt. Brij Bhushan Kabra, the father of the Indian classical slide guitar, invites you to revel in an unusual yet spiritual journey.

Notable song: Raag Piloo

2) Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival of India - Ravi Shankar

This is an outcome of a unique & joyful collaboration between the infamous sitar maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar & his student, the ex-Beatle George Harrison. On Harrison’s offer, a 16 piece revue composed of Indian classical luminaries such as Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Allah Rakha, T.V.G., L Subramanium, Lakshmi Shankar, and the likes toured in the west orchestrated by Ravi Shankar, exhibiting the exemplary yet eclectic aspects of Indian Classical music.

Notable song: Tarana

3) West meets East: Volume 2

After the great success of the 1st album, which won them a Grammy whilst affording a heightened interest in the Indian Classical music world over, the American violinist Yehudi Menuhin & Indian sitar virtuoso Pt. Ravi Shankar released the 2nd masterful volume in a trilogy of collaborations between the two.

Notable song: Raga Piloo

4) Khayal & Thumri by Parween Sultana

The pupil of the Patiala Gharana, particularly known for its thumri, ghazal and khayal styles of singing, Padma Shree Begum Parween Sultana presents a rich exemplification of Patiala Gayaki in the form of Raga Mangal Bhairav, Raga Kusumi Kalyan & Thumri in Bhairavi.

Notable song: Tarse Nain More

5) Yugal Bandi: Played by Shiv + Hari

Recorded at Studio Decibel during a tour in Sweden; Yugal Bandi is a majestic collaboration between Santoor maestro Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma & virtuoso classical flautist Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Notable song: Raga Jhinjhoti

6) Raga Pooriya / Raga Durga by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi

Encountering the music of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi is to enrapture oneself in the ecstatic cosmos. The jewel of the Kirana Gharana, one of the most prolific Indian classical Khayal Gharana, delivers a rejuvenating experience through Raga Pooriya & Raga Durga in this exceptional recording released in 1973.

Notable song: Tu Ras Kan Re

7) Pandit Jasraj Sings Ragas Sudh-sarang & Bhimpalasi: Pandit Jasraj

Pt. Jasraj is the gold standard when it comes to musical performance, a pioneer of the Khayal form belonging to Jaipur Atrauli Gharana. Featuring alongside the Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Pt. Jasraj manages to invoke a heightened level of devotion through delineating khayal sung in Raga Shudh-Sarang & Raga Bhimpalasi.

Notable song: Sakal Ban Laye Rahe

8) Jugalbandi: Dulal Roy & Himangshu Biswas

An extraordinary & rare collaboration between Dulal Roy on Santoor, Himangshu Biswas on Flute & Afaq Hussain Khan on Tabla.

Notable song: Raga Bhupali

9) Prabha Atre By Prabha Atre

A remarkable exponent of the infamous Kirana Gharana, Prabha Atre enunciates a melodic yet empyreal performance in this exceptional 1971 recording, accompanied by Anant Bedekar on Harmonium & Narayanrao Indorkar on Tabla.

Notable song: Tan Man Dhan Tope Varan

10) Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh ‎– Come Alive In A Live Concert

Arguably one of the greatest Ghazal duo to have ever existed; Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh conjures a beautiful & passionate emotion in this live recording of an intimate Mehfil.

Notable song: Meri Tanhaiyo

11) Shehnai And Violin (Jugalbandi): Ustad Bismillah Khan And Prof. V. G. Jog

This is a captivating & rare Jugalbandi between one of the greatest exponents of Shehnai, Ustad Bismillah Khan & the foremost exponent of the Violin in the Hindustani music tradition, Vishnu Govind Jog.

Notable song: Raga Jaijaiwanti

12) Classical Vocal: Kishori Amonkar

Padma Vibhushan Kishori Amonkar is a class apart when it comes to the Khayal form of singing. A genius of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana, Kishori Amonkar achieved a level that can only be attained through true sadhana. Experience musical transcendence through this singular vocal performance! 

Notable song:  Eree Aaj Bhailava Sukhva 

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