Krsna Kirtana Songs
est. 2001 www.kksongs.org
Lesson 4: Combination
Bols
This
is the final set of bols that that we will look at.
In examining the past weeks, we see that we have learned bols
exclusively on the dayan
(Lesson 2) and bols exclusively on the baya (Lesson 3). This lesson will focus on bols that are produced with both dayan and baya sides being
struck. These are called combination bols.
There
are three types of combination bol.
Fully resonant bols
are bols that are fully resonant from dayan and baya.
Collectively, it is a resonant sound. Partially
resonant bols are bols that
have one puri producing resonance while the other puri producing non-resonance. It is a mixture between a
resonant and a non-resonant sound. Finally, nonresonant bols are bols
that have the dayan and baya produce nonresonant bols. Collectively, it is a nonresonant
sound.
FULLY RESONANT BOLS
For
resonant bols, the baya bols can vary. Thus, any resonant baya
bol (gha/ga/gin) can be
used. For display sake, I included gha as the
representative baya bol.
Dhā
Dhā = Tā + Ga/Gha/Gin
Dhā,
as shown by the above equation is a combination of striking tā
and the open baya bol. This is the most popular baya
bol to exist due to its versatile application in
musical compositions. This is usually considered to be a starting bol or finishing bol for most
rhythmic cycles. Play gha and tā
separately. Then play the dhā bol to hear how it sounds like.
Jhā
Jhā = Ga/Gha/Gin + Tā delayed
Jhā
is just like a Dhā, in the respect that gha/ga/gin are used along with tā.
However, the tā used
for jhā is slightly delayed. Gha/Ga/Gin
is played on the baya, first. A second after the baya has been struck, the dayans head is struck to play the tā bol. Even though it does
not sound uniform as the dhā bol
and other bols we will study, jhā
is generally accepted as a fully resonant bol.
Click here to listen how jhā sounds. Then compare this to dhā
to hear the difference in the delayed tā.
PARTIALLY RESONANT
Dhin
Dhin = Ti + Ga/Gha/Gin
Dhin
is a very famous partially resonant bol.
This bol is produced by playing ti
and an open baya bol. Musical purists will call this combined bol as dhi rather than dhin, because there is another bol
tin (which have not and wont study). Tin and open baya
will technically produce a dhin sound. However, for
the scope of this course, just remember that ti and
open baya makes a dhin bol. Remember, that dhin is partially resonant because gha
(or open baya sound) is resonant but ti is not. Listen to ti and gha and listen to dhin together.
Emphasized dayan
In
higher pitched musical instruments like tabla and khol, resonant dayan
bols can be emphasized loudly with the help of ka.
For instance, an emphasized tā is ka + tā. When we say the bol, it
is simply pronounced as tā, but
with more emphasis than the normal tā. This also
applies for nā. When we
write it, for conventions sake, we can use upper-case letters to indicate this
sort of emphasis. Hence ka + tā or ka + nā yields Tā or Nā respectively. Remember, this is only for resonant dayan bols.
FULLY NONRESONANT BOLS
Kat
Kat = Ka + Ti
Kat
is a non-resonant bol which is played by ka on the baya and ti on the dayan. This is like an emphasized dayan, only with the dayan being non-resonant with ti.
Since both of these bols are non-resonant, it is fair
to say that this bols is fully non-resonant.
This
is the final page in learning bols. Before moving
onwards, be sure you are able to say the bol name and
are able to produce the sounds provided through these audio clips. It may be
difficult, but it is absolutely imperative to be able to do this. To test your
abilities in understanding bols as well as testing
your potential to interpret compositions, are nice little exercise from lesson
five will do exactly that.