Indian Classical Performance

1
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

2
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

3
RHYTHM

• Based on Rhythmic cycles (similar to Meterbut
  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)

4
SOME DIFFERENT TALA

• Teental 16 (4 4 4 4) most common
• Keharwa Tal 8 (4 4)
• Adi Tal 8 (422)
• Adachautal 14 (2444)
• Dadra tal 6 (3 3)
• Ektal 12 (222222)
• Jhaptal 10 (2323)
• Sultal 10 (22222)
• Rupak Tal 7 (322)

5
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)

6
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

7
COUNTING ADI TAL

• CLAP 2 3 4
• WAVE 2
• WAVE 2
• Ex. Carnatic Tabla - Adi Taal - SREEJITHKUMAR.G -
  MUSIC WORLD - YouTube

8
COUNTING KEHERWA TAL

• CLAP 2 3 4
• WAVE 2 3 4

9
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

10
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

11
COUNTING SULTAl

• CLAP 2
• WAVE 2
• CLAP 2
• WAVE 2
• CLAP 2
• This pattern is disputed (some consider this a
  5-beat pattern)

12
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

13
Tabla (playing position)
14
TABLA
Tabla (on the right)
Duggi(on the left)
15
Modern Tabla (bolt tuned)
List price 418 (on sale 313 plus SH)
16
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