78 rpm Records of Indian Music: K.C. Mookerjee and G.C. Chatterjee

Here’s an interesting oddity, an early piece of East-West fusion music. Mukherjee and Chatterjee are playing piano and violin, accompanied by tabla. The music is only accidentally Hindustani, although the tabla player, faute de mieux, is pounding out tintaal. The pianist’s approach sounds informed by Western music, while the violinist uses Indian-style slides. The repertoire is gat-derived, with “asthai” and “antara” sections, but any raag contours are obscured, and if there’s improvisation I’m not hearing it. The slight acceleration is typical of Hindustani style.

The same recording is featured on both sides of the disc.