CE19

Ragini Miyan Ki Todi

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar or Zia Fariduddin Dagar

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“This is an absolute must for dhrupad fans and is best heard at sunrise, when the vina and vocals seem to merge, becoming one and the same sound – almost as though the musicians themselves had ceased to exist” – Songlines

One long track (54:11)

Our first release with the rudra veena-vocal duet in raga Malkauns was recorded in Ustad Zia Mohiudding Dagar’s house in Chembur on the evening of february 4, 1968. On the very next morning he and his younger brother Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar recorded the raga that is the female counterpart of raga Malkauns, Ragini Miyan Ki Todi. The name means Miyan’s Todi and it is said to have been created by the famous Miyan Tansen, one of the 9 jewels of emperor Akbar’s court in the 16th century, as his version of the Todi raga.

The notes of this raga are Sa – komal Re – komal Ga – tivra Ma – Pa – komal Dha – Ni in the indian system, corresponding to C Db Eb F# G Ab B with C as tonic.

This album was released in september 2011. Here is the first review, from Songlines, written by Jameela Siddiqi and it’s so good I quote all of it:

“One magical morning“

The honorific Dagar is synonymous with dhrupad, one of the world’s oldest classical vocal genres. Zia Mohiuddin, who died in 1990, was a foremost player of the rudra veena (or been) – one of India’s oldest lutes, which is closely related to the vocal tradition. His brother Zia Fariduddin (born in 1932 and one of dhrupad’s oldest living exponents) performed this rare duet in Bombay, as Mumbai was then known, way back in 1968. This is truly a priceless recording, not only in that it takes place in the intimate surroundings of the maestros’ home but alo because one gets that delicious feeling of eavesdropping on what is strictly a private and intimate early morning affair between the performers and their recordists. Representing the 20th generation of dhrupad performers from a family that has almost singlehandedly preserved and nurtured the tradition, the two Dagars perform an exquisite “Miyan ki Todi”, an early morning raga, composed by the legendary court musician Tansen, who was a favourite of the 16th century Mughal emperor Akbar. Needless to say, this is an absolute must for dhrupad fans and is best heard at sunrise, when the vina and vocals seem to merge, becoming one and the same sound – almost as though the musicians themselves had ceased to exist.”

Now out on vinyl!

Our two cd volumes with Ustads Zia Mohiuddin and Zia Fariduddin doing ragas Malkauns and Miyan Ki Todi have been issued on three vinyl albums by our friends at Black Sweat Records in Italy. Here is the link