“Bhairobi Thoomri” – Talim Hossein – Shehnai with sruti box – 78 rpm

This beautiful classical raga by Talim Hossein features the meditative drone of a shehnai with a sruti box drone (inaccurately referred to at the time of issue as “Indian Bagpipes”) with drums. The title “Bhairobi Thoomri” includes the raga name (Bharavi) and type of song (thumri).

Released as HMV P. 64 (Mx 17756) in 1916.

“In late 1915, the best selling titles in Indian repertoire of The Gramophone Co., Ltd., were issued with the His Master’s Voice (HMV) label, including the words and picture. The HMV label introduced a new double-face number series that began with P-1 for 10″ discs. With the first release of the P-series of January 1916, were some one thousand three hundred double-sided discs that had been previously issued.”
from “Reading Indian Record Labels” by Michael S. Kinnear