EKTAL

by David Courtney

Description
Ektal is a very popular tal. It is is common in classical music such as the kheyal, and semiclassical forms such as Rabindra Sangeet. The structure of ektal is simple. It is 12 matras divided into of six vibhags of two matras each. Its clapping arrangement is clap, wave, clap, wave, clap,clap. It is most associated with the kheyal style of singing. A particular movement known as bada kheyal or vilambit kheyal is performed almost exclusively in very slow ektal. However, ektal is also performed in fast kheyal as well. The name "ektal" literally means "one-clap". How the name came is a mystery since it has four claps

Clapping/ Waving Arrangement

clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, wave, 2, clap, 2, clap, 2

Number of Beats
12

Theka

Popular Songs
Film Songs in Ektal

Streaming Audio In In Ektal

Darbari Kanada (Vilambit) - Vilambit Kheyal in Darbari Kanada. Darbari Kanada (Drut) - Drut Kheyal in Darbari Kanada. (CD)

(CD)

DIPCHANDI TAL (DEEPCHANDI, CHANCHAR, CHOCHAR)

by David Courtney

Description

Dipchandi also known as Chanchar or Chochar and is a moderately popular 14 beat tal in northern India. It may roughly be translated to mean "lamplight". This tal is divided into four vibhags (measures) of 3, 4, 3 and 4 matras. These vibhags are denoted by a clap, clap, wave, and clap respectively. Today, there are two common prakars of dipchandi. There is one which is used in film songs and light music and another which is used in semiclassical forms such as the thumri. The one which is used in thumri is general considered the "official" version, and is the one which is shown here.

Clapping/ Waving Arrangement

clap, 2, 3, clap, 2, 3, 4, wave, 2, 3, clap, 2, 3, 4

Number of Beats
14

Theka

SITARKHANI (PUNJABI THEKA)

by David Courtney

Description
Punjabi theka is a common tal of 16 beats. Some suggest that it is not really a separate tal, but is merely a prakar of tintal. There are different views as to its name. Some call it Punjabi theka and others call it sitarkhani. Vocalists usually refer to this as punjabi theka; presumably, at some time in the past, this was a variation of tintal that was popularised by musicians from the Punjab. The Punjab is a border area between Pakistan and India. Lahore and Amritsar are two important cities in the Punjab. Instrumentalists tend to call this tal sitarkhani. Presumably, this is a corruption from the phrase "Siddhar-Khan-e-theka" which literally translates to "Siddhar Khan's Groove". Siddhar Khan was a great musician who is sometimes credited with the invention of the tabla. In spite of the name, there seems to be no evidence that Siddhar Khan ever played this theka. (Still absence of evidence is NOT evidence of absence.) Sitarkhani has a very distinctive movement. It is just tintal where the two Dhins in the middle of each measure (vibhag) have been replaced by a singleDhin that rests on the off-beat. It is this distinctive syncopation that gives this tal its pleasant effect. Sitarkhani's (punjabi theka) characteristics are shown below:

Clapping/ Waving Arrangement

clap, 2, 3, 4, clap, 2, 3, 4, wave, 2, 3, 4, clap, 2, 3, 4

Number of Beats
16

Theka

Popular Songs