Krsna Kirtana Songs
est. 2001 www.kksongs.org
Home à Music Center à Instrumental Guides à Khol Guide
Lesson 10: Eight Matra Kirtan Thekas
2
Last
week, we looked into eight matra talas
using kaherva. This week, we will look into another
type of eight matra talas.
This is called Prabhupada tala.
Literally, this means “tala of lotus feet of the
Lord.” As the name also implies, this tala is
associated with Srila Prabhupada.
This is prakar of an older tala
known as “Visva Vandita Tala” and the Bengali tala known
as dasaphira.
Srila Prabhupada’s father, Gour Mohan Dey, played this tala and taught Srila Prabhuapda this. Per Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, this tala has
been used and been quite frequently in slow to medium tempo kirtans.
The
theka is as follows:
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
||||||
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
7 |
|
8 |
|
||||||
|
dha |
ti |
ra |
ki |
ti |
tā |
tā |
ti |
ra |
ki |
ti |
tā |
ka |
ti |
ra |
ki |
ti |
dhā |
dhin |
dhā |
dhin |
dhā |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It
is divided 4+2+2. The talis are located on the sam and matra 7. The khali is located on matra 5. Even
though this is an eight matra cycle like kaherva tala, this is more
complex for several reasons.
- Unlike kaherva tala, this tala has a slower layakari. It can be said
that it takes two full kaherva cycles to make up
one whole cycle of Prabhupada tala. Yet, they have the same number of matras.
- Each matra is either composed of half matras or quarter matras. A half matra
is half of the value of one matra. Notice in matra 1, dha takes up a half
matra. TiRa takes up
the second half of the first matra.
Since
Ti and Ra are two individual bols, you can divide the
second half matra of matra
1 to get quarter matras.
A quarter matra is a half of a half matra OR a quarter of a full matra.
Let’s
break Prabhupada Tala down:
H = Half Q=quarter
MATRA
1: H QQ
MATRA
2: QQ H
MATRA
3: H QQ
MATRA
4: QQ H
MATRA
5: H QQ
MATRA
6: QQH
MATRA
7: H H
MATRA
8: H H
In
playing this tala, it is highly recommended to use
the vibhag method to study this rhythmic cycle.
Listen to the clip below to understand how the vibhags
work for Prabhupada tala.
AUDIO CLIP: Lesson 10 Vibhag Breakdown of Prabhupada tala
Part 1: dhā
trkt tā
Part 2: tā
trkt tā
Part 3: ka trkt
dhā
Part 4: dhin
dhā dhin dhā
After
mastering all four portions, fuse them together and result in a full cycle.
Once
you are able to pick up the cycle, continuously practice Prabhupada
tala in a chain. Practice along with this audio clip
which is just a continuous loop of Prabhupada tala.
AUDIO CLIP: Lesson 10 Prabhupada Tala Practice
PRAKARS: Like tintal and kaherva tala, there are a number
of prakars of Prabhupada tala. The following videos will review Prabhupada
tala and some prakars.
VIDEO 0: THEKA INTRODUCTION
VIDEO
1: PRAKAR 1
VIDEO
2: PRAKAR 2
UPDATED: January 7, 2010