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Editorial Reviews

Manilal Nag's Raga Nat Bhairav is an interesting CD because the same raga is played on both the surbahar and the sitar. The surbahar is a large bass sitar (or Indian lute) which was created around 1825 to play the alap, or slow movement, in Indian classical music. Since then the sitar has evolved so as to be able to play the alap itself, and so the surbahar is rarely played.

The surbahar still has a large following, and the reason is obvious when you listen to it. It has a four-octave range, and bent notes are much more obvious on it than on the sitar. The music is not boring despite the same raga being played twice: first, the tonality of the instruments is very different; second, the sitar version features Samir Chatterjee on tabla, which the surburhar version does not; and third, the improvisations are quite different. This is pleasant music; the concluding "Drut Gat in Tintal" ("tintal" referring to fast movement) of the sitar version is especially vigorous. Warmly recommended for fans of Indian classical music. ~ Kurt Keefner, All Music Guide All Music Guide

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