Unit 4-5: Rhythm Cycles: North Indian Taal

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Define the following concepts related to North Indian Classical Rhythm: taal, bol, theka, taali, khaali, sam, and laya.
Compare and contrast the concept of taal with the Western classical concept of meter.
Perform the North Indian teentaal rhythm by clapping and reciting traditional syllables

Preparation for Class

Read:

"Rhythm (taal) in Indian Classical Music" (Sādhana's Demystifying Indian Classical Music)
Taal Handout - Read through the handout and use it as a guide while you watch the following videos.

Watch

Introduction to Taal and Rhythm
(Urmi Battu, 5 mins)

Introduction to Teentaal
(Urmi Battu, 4 mins) Start at 0:31

Explore

Count & Sing Along: Flip through the Taal on this page (digitabla.com) and pick out a few to practice. Keep time using the hand gestures Urmi presents in her video and sing the syllables of the Theka along with the tabla player's performance.

Study Aids

Handouts:

Examples of how bol (rhythmic syllables) relates to tabla sound and performance. Three examples for Rupaktal, Teental, and Dharamital rhythm cycles.

Source: Redheylin, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tala_(music)

This is a table illustrating the relationship between bol (rhythmic syllables) and tabla sounds, along with examples of rhythm cycles for three examples for Rupaktal, Teental, and Dharamital. The top half of the image features a two-column table labeled "Bol" on the left and "Sound" on the right. The "Bol" column lists rhythmic syllables, while the "Sound" column explains the corresponding sound or stroke on the tabla drums. * Ti or Te: A dry, slapping sound played on the black circle (syahi) of the dayan (the smaller drum). * Na or Ta: A resonant tone played on the outer ring (keenar) of the dayan. * Tin: A resonant tone played on the middle ring (sur) of the dayan. * Ga: A resonant tone played on the middle ring (sur) of the bayan (the larger drum). * Ka: A dry slap played on the bayan. * Dhin: The Ga and Tin strokes played simultaneously. * Dha: The Ga and Na/Ta strokes played simultaneously. * Tirakita: A combination of Ti, Te, Ka, and Ta strokes played quickly in a row. Beneath the table are three rhythm cycles with notations for Rupaktal, Teental, and Dharamital. * Rupaktal (top-left frame): Shows a 7-beat cycle (2+3+2) with the notations: "Tin 0 3, Tin 2, Dhina 5, Dhina 6, Dhina 4, Dhina 6, Tin 0, Na." * Teental (center frame): Depicts a 16-beat cycle with the bols "Dha Dhin Dhin Dha, X 2 3 4, Dha Tin Tin Ta, 5 6 7 8, Ta Dhin Dhin Dha, 9 10 11 12, Dha Tin Tin Ta, 13 14 15 16." * Dharamital (right frame): Displays a 14-beat cycle (7+7) with notations "Ka Dhi Te, X 1 3 4, Dhin Dhin Na, Dha 5 6 7 8, Ga Ti Te, 9 10 11 Te Ka/2." At the bottom of the image, a heading reads, "Bol and Tal," tying together the rhythmic syllables and the structure of the rhythm cycles.

Pre-Class Assignment

Assignment 4-5

In-Class Activities

Discussion

Definitions: Define the following concepts as they relate to North Indian classical rhythm: taal, bol, theka, taali, khaali, sam, and laya.
Cultural Comparison: How does the North Indian concept of taal compare with the Western classical concept of meter? Take teental as an example. Does this taal sound different from Western 4/4 time? Consider both similarities and differences. What is a rhythmic cycle?
- - - How do taal compare to the African concept of time lines?
Rhythm and Melody: How does the taal interact and influence the raag and the overall improvisation?

Activities

Rhythm Cycles: Select a few of the taals on p. 2 of the Taal Handout. For each taal, answer the following:
- - How many mātrās are in the taal?
  - How many sections (or vibhāgs) does it have?
  - Draw a circle and divide it into mātrās and vibhāgs to illustrate one āvart of the taal. Use the circle for teental on p. 1 of the handout as a guide.
Analysis of Ravi Shankar's L'Aube Enchantée:
- - This piece was originally scored for flute and harp. This is an example of a fusion composition: the structure adheres to Hindustani music theory, but it is written in Western notation for Western instruments. The taal is performed by the guitar since there's no tabla player.
  - Open the analysis worksheet here and follow the directions.
Counting along with Teentaal
- - Count the teentaal cycle with Rahul Ram Pophali (play this video from 2:30–2:55). Use bol syllables and the clapping/waving counting gestures that Urmi teaches in her video. Refer to your handout on teentaal for a reference while you sing and count.
  - Listen to this tabla performance by Pandit Sharda Sahi and count along singing the theka quietly, clapping and waving to the counts.
  - Then, try to count along with the following performances and see if you can keep track of the taal:
    - - This is a more straightforward example.
      - This is a more challenging example
Raag Composition (bandish) Analysis: Split into groups and select a composition from Sādhana's Raga Composition page here. Read through the characteristics of the raag and sing it. For each composition, Sādhana provides a short video that describes the taal and theka associated with the composition. Listen to the recording of the piece and study the staff notation provided on the webpage. How does the taal interact with or influence the melodic material?

Repertoire for Practice

Raag Compositions: Visit the composition page of "Demystifying Indian Classical Music" to find a list of compositions, audio files, Western notation, and descriptions of the taal and raag for each.

Raag Compositions

NEXT STEP

Next Unit: Instruments & Timbre

Want to learn more?

Interested in the Tabla ? Check out the Liner Notes to 42 Lessons for Tabla or explore the DigiTabla page to see demonstrations of different taal and bols.

Or, check out this video (to the right) from the Kennedy Center with Anubrata Chatterjee demonstrating different bols on the tabla.

Want to explore rhythmic cycles in Arabic music? Arabic music uses cycles of rhythm called iqa‘at. Check out this page to see some examples and hear them in music.

Optional Additional Practice

Musition: Rhythm Notation: Level 3

Page updated

Report abuse