The Khayal Ensemble
The Khayal Ensemble is Samarth Nagarkar’s core offering as a musician, showcasing the tradition he represents in all its depth.
Khayal is the predominant form of Hindustani voice music. Improvisational in nature, it weaves intricate patterns of melody (ragas) and rhythms (talas) to create a compelling musical experience. These are deep listening concerts, emotive as they are virtuosic, offering a full spectrum of moods, from meditative and introspective to enthralling and ecstatic.
Samarth Nagarkar draws from repertoire of three distinct khayal gharanas (stylistic lineages) as well as two other sub-genres of Hindustani raga music, thumri and dhrupad.
The ensemble consists of voice, tabla, harmonium/sarangi and two tanpuras (drone instruments). These may be performed both in large auditoriums and in chamber music gatherings called “baithak”.
Concerts may range from 45 minutes to 3 hours. Interspersed with the music, the audience is also engaged through occasional commentary and brief explanations where necessary.