Vocabulary & glossary of terminology
Ada-Dhumali An 8 beat tal.
Adi An 8 beat tal.
Akal "Untimely", a variety of tabla gat, particular to the Lucknow
gharana, that ends before the sum.
Akar singing with an "AH" sound instead of the sargam or words.
Alankar 'basic knowledge', musical patterns which are usually sequential in nature,
ear training for the notes of the raga.
Alap An introductory slow movement in raga, free of rhythm;
it elaborates the musical ideas on the melodic scale. a slow improvisation,
invocation, sets the character of the raga.
Andolan See gamak.
Anahd Cosmic silence.
Ana-gat A composition (e.g. tihi, chekreda, or gat),
that ends one beat before the sum.
The sum itself is "dropped" or left silent.
Anga A part of the raga, a phrase identifying a raga.
Ank A 9 beat tal.
Antara embellishment, second half of composition, in upper part of octave.
Ara-Chautal A 16 beat tal.
Aroha Ascending note pattern.
Asthai establish, first half of composition.Ati
more, as ati komalkomal Ma, or ati ati komal Ma.
Avaroha Descending note pattern.
Avartan One complete cycle of a tal.
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Baj Style of playing an instrument.
Barabar Equal rhythm or time; one bol per beat.
Bara Khali Literally "not khali", a stressed (emphasized)
beat, or portion, of the tala pattern.
Bedam Without pause or gap. For a tihi or chekreda, this
means with no pause between the repeating
phrases.
Bhai "Brother"
Bhajan A devotional song.
Bhajani-teka An 8 beat tal.
Bol A syllable representing drum strokes and the sounds
they make.
Bol-tanas Musical phrases interlinked with bols.
Brahma A 14 beat tal.
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Chikari Drone strings found in instruments like the sitar, sarod.
Champak Sawari An 11 beat tal.
Chand Theme-and-variations tabla compositions. Also a rhythm
or repeated rhythmic device.
Chapukinar A tabla stroke that "sticks", from a snapping motion.
Often played on the kinar.
Chautal A 10 beat tal.
Chegun "Six times", the division of the beat into six equal parts.
Chekreda A long composition repeated three times, which itself
contains a tihi, and ends on the sum, except
with ana-gat compositions.
Chellan Theme-and-variations tabla compositions
Chilla A ritual where one plays their instrument for 40 days,
in seclusion. Indian music culture dictates a
performer should perform three challas in their
lifetime.
Chogun "Four times", the division of the beat into four equal parts
Choti Sawari A 15 beat tal.
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Dadra A tal of 6 beats, also, a light classical song, thurmi style,
sung in dadra tal.
Dahina "Right", the "right hand" drum, the tabla.
Dayan The "right hand" drum, the tabla.
De Tabla: Ge + Te
Deepchandi A 14 beat tal.
Derda Tabla: Derda (Two Strokes)
Dha Tabla: Dha
Dhamar A 14 beat tal. Also refers to a form of dhrupad
(sung in dhamar tal).
Dhar Tabla: Dha
Dharn Tabla: Dha
Dheri Tabla: Derda (Two Strokes)
Dhet Tabla: Ge + Te
Dhi Tabla: Dhi (Dun)
Dhi' Tabla: Dhin
Dhin Tabla: Dhin
Dhit Tabla: Ge + Te
Dhita Tabla: Derda (Two Strokes),
Dholak Barrel-shaped, two headed drum.
Dhuran See gamak.
Di Tabla: Dun (Di, generally reserved for
full hand open Dun)
Din Tabla: Dun
Dhrupad The largest musical from in the Indian classical vocal
tradition. The four structural features, or parts,
of Dhrupad consist of Sithayi, Antara, Abhog, and
Sanchari. Dhrupad vocalist often sing in Chautal,
a 12 beat cycle.
Dhumali An 8 beat tal.
Dhun A light tune, free from the discipline of a raga.
Drut Fast tempo or laya, performed after the madhya-laya
(medium tempo); it marks the climax of the
performance.
Dugun "Two times", the division of the beat into two equal parts.
Dun Tabla: Dun
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Ektal A 12 beat tal.
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Formeshi A chekreda that contains a tihi which: on the first
Chekreda iteration of the chekreda, the sum occurs at
the ending of the first third of the inner
tihi, and on the second iteration of the
chekreda the sum occurs on the ending of the
second third of the tihi, and on the final
iteration of the chekreda, the sum occurs
at the end of the tihi -- (as well as the end
of the chekreda).
Furodust A 13 beat tal.
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G Tabla: Ge
Gaj Jhampa A 15 beat tal.
Gamak A tonal embellishment, a grace note, a note with a hint
of the preceding or succeeding note.
Types include:
Dhuran Up scale; approaching each note from the note above.
Muran Down scale; approaching each note from the note above.
Meend Connecting movement between notes upward and downward.
Soot Falling back at the end of a note to next note below, very subtle.
Hurukh Jump between notes, ascending.
Andolan Swinging or swaying back and forth, from one note to another
usually fairly evenly, (not more than three times).
Kansur Literally half a note as (dha) pa: a grace note from the note above
Murkee Surrounding note with upper note and lower note.
Layhuk Like a sname going zigzag e.g. SGRMGPMDP... sliding.
Katka Jerk, repeated note over and over with other tone, usually from
below ( no more than three at once).
Gitkiri Breaking note in throat and with Adam's apple, with an 'h' on the attack.
Ganda bandhan "Thread-tying" ceremony initiating a student into his
teacher's close circle of disciples.
Gat A fixed composition.
Gayaki A style of singing.
Ge Tabla: Ge
Gen Tabla: Ge
Gerda Tabla: Ge, then last stroke of Derda (Two Strokes)
Ghar "House"
Gharana "Of the house", a school of music, tradition. A lineage
incorporating a unique style of performance,
compositional techniques and traditions.
See ghar above.
Ghazal Style of vocal music.
Ghe Tabla: Ge
Gheri Tabla: Ge, then last stroke of Derda (Two Strokes)
Ghita Tabla: Ge, then last stroke of Derda (Two Strokes)
Gi Tabla: Ge
Gidi Tabla: GeGe (Two Strokes)
Gitkiri See gamak.
Gn Tabla: Ge
Gob The shiyahi.
Grama An ancient standard scale.
Guru Teacher, master, mentor.
Guru-bhai "Brothers under one guru, fellow disciples studying under
the same guru.
See bhai.
Guru-parampara The annual festival day in honor of one's guru.
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Hathauri Hammer, used for tuning the tabla.
Heptatonic A scale of seven notes.
Hurukh See gamak.
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Jhala Melody interpolated with strokes on the chikari strings.
Played at very fast tempo it marks the climax, after
alap and jod, and sometimes after the gat.
Jhaptal A 10 beat tal.
Jod The second movement of a raga, after the alap. With a
sitar, or similar instrument, jod presents the notes
of a raga, with a steady rhythm but without tabla
accompaniment.
Joomra A 14 beat tal.
Jor The second section of an alap, in which a pulse is introduced.
Jugalbandi A duet, vocal or instrumental.
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K,Ka Tabla: Ke
Kaida A variation of a theme, or the theme itself, based
on a tal. The TABLAbase represents the theme as
kaida variation number == 0.
Kajri A folk song from Uttar Predesh.
Kansur See gamak.
Kathak A form of dance, which emphasizes rhythmic patterns
played with the feet.
Katka See gamak.
Kavali An 8 beat tal.
Keherwa An 8 beat tal.
Ken Tabla: Ke
Kerda Tabla: Ke, then last stroke of Derda (Two Stokes)
Khempta A 6 beat tal.
Khali "Empty", a negation of stress or presence, in the tala
pattern.
Khandmeri Permutations and combinations of notes.
Khayal A popular form of Indian classic vocal music.
"Khayal" comes from a Persian word meaning
imagination, or creative thought.
Khandan Family lineage.
Khandani Of the family lineage.
See khandan above.
Khan sahib A polite address, for a Muslim musician.
Kheri Tabla: Ke, then last stroke of Derda (Two Strokes)
Khita Tabla: Ke, then last stroke of Derda (Two Strokes)
Khula baj "Open style", a tabla style found in Lucknow which utilises
mainly open resonant strokes; where the fingers do
not remain in contact with the drumhead after the
stroke.
Khuli "Open", denoting open, resonant, strokes of the tabla.
Kinar The outer portion of three sections of the puri.
Ki Tabla: Ke
Kidi Tabla: KeKe (Two Strokes)
Kin Tabla: Ke
Komal flat, as in Komal Pa, as in not natural or sharp.
usually denoted by a horizontal line under the note.
Komal Swara A flattened scale.
Kra Tabla: Kra (second part of TruKra)
Krda Tabla: Fast Kre + Dha.
Kre Tabla: Kre (second part of TreKre)
Ku Tabla: Ke
Kuraj Low Sa.
Kut Tabla: Ke
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Laggi A theme-and-variation tabla composition;
frequently used to accompany ghazal,
thrumi, and kathak performances.
Larant "Fighting", a style of tabla accompaniment in
which the tablist plays compositions or
improvises simultaneously with the soloist.
Lay Tempo, or rhythm.
Laya Tempo, or rhythm.
Laydar Used to describe a musician with a good rhythmic facility.
Layhuk See gamak.
Laykari Rhythmic play, especially complex divisions of the beat.
Lehra A melody lasting one cycle of a given tal,
used to accompany tabla solos.
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Mandra slow tempo, or lower ocatave (often denoted by a dot under the note).
Madhya Medium tempo, or middle octave.
Maidan The middle portion of the three sections of the puri.
(The "race track" area according to Zakir!)
Mantra A beat, the tala's unit of measurement.
Meed Smooth gliding movement between two swaras.
Meend See gamak.
Mishra Mixed. Mixing two or more ragas together, makes that
a mishra raga.
Mithas "Sweetness", a quality of sound recognized as a trait
of the Lucknow gharana.
Mohra A fixed composition, related to a tukra, in
tabla repertoire.
Mukhra A short, often improvised flourish of tabla bols.
Muran See gamak.
Murkee See gamak.
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Na Tabla: Na
Nada Sound, cosmic energy.
Nal Barrel shaped, two headed folk drum.
Naqqara A pair of hemispherical drums played with sticks.
Ne Tabla: Ne (played with just 3rd finger
or 3rd and 4th finger)
Ne' Tabla: Tin
Nau ki tihi "A tihi of nine", a tihi within a tihi.
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Oudhav Scale of the raga with five notes.
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Pakhawaj Large, barrel shaped, two headed tuned
drum of north India. Used to
accompany drupad and as a solo
instrument.
Palli "Step" or "measure", refers to a statement of
a tabla phrase, in a gat, which then
repeats a number of times, at different
speeds.
Palta A type of variation derived from the theme of a
tabla composition.
Panch laya Division of the beat in to five parts.
Pancham Sawari A 15 beat tal.
Pashtu A 7 beat tal.
Parampara Guru-Shishya. Sacred relationship between the master and
the pupil.
Paran A fixed composition found in pakhawaj music and in kathak
dance. Sometimes played on the tabla, particularly
with the Benares gharana.
Paune dugun "One and three quarters time", the division of four beats into
seven equal parts.
Pentatonic A scale with notes.
Peshkar "presentation", a slower opening composition with great
rhythmical variation. A specialty of the
Delhi gharana.
Poorab Ang A school of singing thurmi, or playing tabla.
Poorvang Lower tetrachord, from 'Sa' to 'Ma'.
Pundit A term of respect for a Hindu person of expertise,
excellence, or knowledge.
Puri A drumhead.
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R Tabla: Te ("Re")
Raga A melodic concept within certain strict rules. Ragas
organize groups of notes. Every raga presents its own
nature and personality. Performers adhere to the
rules of the raga to various degrees. These rules
include:
1) The scale must consist of at least five notes.
2) scale must consist of a determined type, either 'mela'
or 'that'.
3) Either 'ma' or 'pa' must occur (the fourth or
fifth harmonic)
4) aroha and avaroha should occur in a set sequence.
5) A performer should maintain the Pakad, i.e. grip of
the raga, by judicious use of a minimal number of
notes, characteristic of the raga.
Rang "Color", a theme-and-variation tabla composition similar
to rela in structure. Particular to the Lucknow gharana.
Rang rela A theme-and-variation tabla composition which consist of
both a rang and a rela.
Rasa Aesthetic content or emotional appeal.
Rela "Rain", "torrent", "rushing stream", a theme-and-variation
tabla composition using rapidly articulated
strokes like: TRKT, TKTRKT, DiNeGiNa.
Riyaz Practice.
Rudra An 11 beat tal.
Rupak A 7 beat tal.
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S Tabla: S (pronounced "ahh",
meaning "rest").
Sampooran Complete, haptatonic.
Samvadi The note next in importance to 'vadi'. supporting note.
Sangat Accompaniment, usually of percussion instrument(s) with
the main performer (either vocal or instrumental).
Sangatia The accompanist
Saptak A gamut of seven notes.
Sargam "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa", similar to Solfegio ("Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do"),
each "note" has a particular name, used for both discussion
and performance.
Satgun "Seven times", equal division of the beat in to seven parts.
Sath sangat "Together accompaniment", a style of tabla accompaniment in
which the tablist play compositions or improvises
simultaneously with the soloist.
Sawai "One and one quarter times", division of four beats in to five
equal parts.
Shadaj The beginning note, 'Sa' of the saptak.
Shagira A disciple.
Shishya A disciple.
Shiyahi "Ink", a black spot, made from flour and iron powder,
placed on the puri of the tabla, mrdangm, and
pakhawaj. Also refered to as the gob.
Shruti In Sanskrit, 'shruti' means that which is heard.
A shruti consists of a microtonal interval less than
a semitone.
Shudh Pure, natural note. As in Shuddha Pa. Not sharp or flat.
Shuddha Pure, natural note. As in Shuddha Pa. Not sharp or flat.
Shul A 10 beat tal, also called Surfakta tal.
Soot See gamak.
Sum The beginning (or ending of the tal, or rhythmic cycle).
Surfakta A 10 beat tal, also called Shul tal.
Swara Musical note, tonal register.
Swaramandal A harp like instrument constructed with a box and having
approximately 40 strings. Some vocalists use this
instruments to strum during their performance.
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T Tabla: Te
Ta Tabla: Ta
Taan A fast musical phase often played with intricate
ornamentation patterns. musical pattern (sometimes quite fast)
specific for raga.
Tal A time cycle, or rhythmic structure, with emphasis placed on
particular beats.
Tala A time cycle, or rhythmic structure, with emphasis placed on
particular beats.
Tali "Clap", an accent of stress, marked by clapping, which
delineates the structure of a tal.
Tappa A 16 beat tal. Also a Hindustani compositional form with
very quick phrases. It developed from the folk songs
of camel drivers in Punjab.
Tar Upper octave. often denoted by a dot above the note.
Te Tabla: Te
Teevra Sharp, As in Teevra Ma. Not natural or flat. often denoted with a
vertical line above the note. the connecting link between 2 halves
of the octave. the only sharp note.
Teka A fixed composition presenting the basic structure of
the tal.
Terda Tabla: Terda (Two Strokes)
Terwa A 7 beat tal.
That heptatonic scale, modal structure.
Theri Tabla: Terda (Two Strokes)
Thurmi Style of light classical music
Ti Tabla: Ti (Te, middle finger)
Tihi Tabla: A composition played three times, ending on the sum,
except with an ana-gat tihi.
Tin Tabla: Tun (open Tin)
Tinvra A 7 beat tal.
Tintal A 16 beat tal.
Tin' Tabla: Tin (closed Tin)
Tit Tabla: Strong Te
Tita Tabla: Terda (Two Strokes)
Tivra Swara Sharpened note.
TreKre Tabla: TreKre (Two Strokes)
TruKra Tabla: TruKra (Two Strokes)
Tu Tabla: Tun
Tukra __
Tun Tabla: Tun
Tuk,Tat,Tet Tabla: Tuk (full hand)
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Ustad A term of respect for a Muslim person of expertise,
excellence, or knowledge.
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Vadi principal note.
Vikram A 6 beat tal.
Vilambit slow speed.
Vishwa A 13 beat tal.
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