RAGA MARWA ****

Artist: Ustad Sultan Khan

Label and genre: India Archive Music/Virgin records, Hindustani classical

Price: Cassettes Rs 75, CDs Rs 245

The sarangi is one of the most charming and exotic instruments in Indian music. And though the number of sarangi players has declined tremendously, artists like Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Sabri Khan and Ustad Sultan Khan have kept the instrument alive in the past few decades.

This album contains a solo recording by Ustad Sultan Khan, who is accompanied on tabla by Anuradha Pal. His first piece is in raga Marwa. The unaccompanied section begins with a majestic alaap, and he builds it up gradually to reach the jod.

He then plays three compositions a slow one set to teentaal and based on a traditional bandish, a medium-tempo piece set to rupak taal and inspired by an Ustad Amir Khan tarana, and a fast one set to ektaal and based on a traditional sargam.

The rendition is stylish, with Pal showing rhythmic brilliance. A calm and pensive dhun in Bhairavi, set to the six-beat dadra taal, acts as an apt conclusion.