Indian Classical Performance
• Improvisation (not pre-composed)
• Pitch – based on Raga (scales, but more)
• Rhythm – based on Tala (meters, but more)
• Process of “unfolding” the Raga- movement from low to high- rhythmic movement from slow to fast
Organization of the Improvisation
• Alap – opening section, free rhythm (no drums), establishes the Raga
• Jor (Jod) – drums enter, regular rhythm (Tala) established
• Jahla – fast, virtuosic concluding section
• Gat – fixed (pre-composed) tune featured in last section
RHYTHM
• Based on Rhythmic cycles (similar to Meter…but much MORE)
• Division of time by regular beats (MATRA)
• 1st beat of cycle [most important] (SAM)
• One group of beats [measure] (VIBHAG),[not all cycles of equal weight]
• Complete cycle (AVARTAN)
• Each cycle a unique pattern (TAL or TALA)
SOME DIFFERENT TALA
• Teental = 16 (4 + 4 + 4 + 4) [most common]Keharwa Tal = 8 (4 + 4)• Adi Tal = 8 (4+2+2)• Adachautal = 14 (2+4+4+4)• Dadra tal = 6 (3 + 3)• Ektal = 12 (2+2+2+2+2+2)• Jhaptal = 10 (2+3+2+3)• Sultal = 10 (2+2+2+2+2)• Rupak Tal = 7 (3+2+2)
COUNTING TALA
• Not all Matra (beats) are equal
• 1st beat of cycle [most important] (SAM)
• Not all Vibhag (measures) are equal
• Tali (clap) = strong beginning to Vibhag
• Khali (wave) = weak beginning to Vibhag
• Remainder of Matra in Vibhag counted on fingers (begin w/ little finger)
COUNTING TEENTAL
• CLAP 2 3 4
• CLAP 2 3 4
• WAVE 2 3 4
• CLAP 2 3 4• Ex. Tabla lesson - Teen taal – YouTube
• Ex.Ustad Zakir Hussain -- Vintage Teental Solo - YouTube
COUNTING ADI TAL
• CLAP 2 3 4
• WAVE 2
• WAVE 2
• Ex. Carnatic Tabla - Adi Taal - SREEJITHKUMAR.G - MUSIC WORLD - YouTube
COUNTING KEHERWA TAL
• CLAP 2 3 4
• WAVE 2 3 4
COUNTING DADRA TAL
• CLAP 2 3
• WAVE 2 3
• Ex. Tabla lesson - Dadra taal.wmv – YouTube
• Ex. Taal dadra been played by ustad jaswinder meet - YouTube
COUNTING JHAPTAL
• CLAP 2
• CLAP 2 3
• WAVE 2
• CLAP 2 3
• Ex. Jhaptal tabla demo – YouTube
• Ex. Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha - Tabla Solo in Jhaptal - YouTube
COUNTING SULTAl
• CLAP 2
• WAVE 2
• CLAP 2
• WAVE 2
• CLAP 2
• This pattern is disputed (some consider this a 5-beat pattern)
COUNTING RUPAK TAL
• WAVE 2 3• CLAP 2• CLAP 2• Ex. Tabla lesson - rupak taal –
YouTube• Ex. Tabla Solo - Rupak Taal - Pt.
Samta Prasad Mishra - YouTube
Tabla (playing position)
TABLA
“Tabla” (“on the right”)
“Duggi”(“on the left”)
Modern Tabla (“bolt tuned”)
List price: $ 418 (on sale: $ 313 plus S&H)
Learning & Playing Tabla
• Taught by rote (no written music used)
• Variety of strokes - area of drum head struck- finger(s) used- manner of stroke
• Taught Mnenomically with “Bols”
• Ex.: Dha, Din, Ga, Ta, Na, Ti, Ka, Tin, Tu, etc.
• YouTube video