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Lesson 18: Eight Matra Mukhras
This lesson will discuss mukhras, or cadence forms that starts before a cycle or
ends a cycle. Just as weve done in Lesson 5 with the phrases, they are taught
as phrases. Since mukhras are not rhythmic cycles or tālas, they
cannot be taught in the same that we learned tālas
like Kaherva, Prabhupāda,
bhajani, etc. Therefore, there are no vibhags or tala numbers.
MUKHRA 1
This
mukhra is very famous and most commonly used in
medium tempo kirtans or fast tempo kirtans slowing down to medium tempos. The bols for the mukhra are as
follows:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
||||||
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
dhā |
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
dhā |
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
As
a side note, this mukhra is a type of tihai. A tihai is a mukhra which consists
of a repetition of a phrase three times. It can be seen that a repetition of trkt dha is done for a total of
three times.
Lastly,
in this mukhra, the tā
in the ti ā ki ti phrases can be replaced with ra.
For Bengali musicians, their re is an open bol
played by the thumb so it will sound
the same.
MUKHRA 2:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|||
Tā |
te |
ra |
Tā |
te |
ra |
Tā |
This
mukhra is used right before or during the drut lay kaherva tala, or in bhajani tala (any laya). This particular mukhra is known as a pick-up.
Note the capital T in Ta implying the use of ka along with ta.
Also
note that this is using a bol that was considered to
be an optional bol te.
Its easier to play with te, although playing this
with ti is perfectly acceptable.
MUKHRA 3 A:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
||||||
ti |
ti |
tā |
Ke |
ti |
ra |
ki |
ti |
tā |
ke |
ti |
ra |
ki |
ti |
This
is a complex mukhra used in a variety of ways. It is
a very refined mukhra that gives the roll sound the
tabla is very famous for. This is usually played fast
and is compressed into 4 beats for eight beat cycles. This is commonly seen in bhajans and less frequently in kirtans.
MUKHRA 3 B:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
||||||
ti |
ti |
Tā |
ti |
ti |
Tā |
ti |
ti |
tāke |
tira |
kiti |
tāke |
tira |
kiti |
Sometimes,
there a prefix mukhra is added on top of this mukhra to form this phrase. Again, this is used in bhajans frequently and less commonly in kirtans.
MUKHRA 4:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
||||||
Tā |
Tā |
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
dhā |
|
Tā |
Tā |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
||||||
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
dhā |
|
Tā |
Tā |
ti |
tā |
ki |
ti |
||
This
is a complex tihai. Unlike the tihai
shown in Mukhra 1, this one has space between the repetition of the phrase Tā Tā titā kiti dhā.
LAGGI:
X |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
dhā |
|
tā |
dhā |
|
dhā |
gha |
gha |
A
laggi is a
cyclic form (hence, the tala number on top) that
involves excessive usage of baya usage. This
particular laggi is a version of kaherva
tala that you may use when the kirtana
reaches a very quick tempo or the peak of the kirtan
when there are tell-tale signs of the kirtana ending.
Note the irregular spacing in.
TOD:
A
tod
(pronounced toad, lit. break) is a rhythmic piece
that can sometimes show the ending of a set of cycles or end. Two tods are presented here.
TOD 1:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
dhin |
|
Tā |
dhin |
|
Tā |
Tā |
|
1 |
|
||||||
jhā |
|
This
is used specifically to end the cycle. Please note that this is the first time we are ever using the bol jhā. If you have
forgotten how to play this bol, please review Lesson
4 of this series.
TOD 2:
1 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
5 |
|
6 |
|
7 |
|
8 |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
(14) |
(15) |
(16) |
dhin |
tā |
gha |
dhin |
tā |
gha |
dhin |
tā |
gha |
Tod 2
is an eight matra mukhra.
Because this has many off-beat points, playing this cycle just by reading it is
very difficult. Therefore, it has been spread out to make it look like a
sixteen beat cycle. To avoid confusion, the sixteen beat counting scheme is indicated using parenthesis.
Like
the way youve studied the phrases in Lesson 5, you should study these phrases
very well. In Lesson 20, showing how these phrases are
actually used in the tālas youve learned.
UPDATED: July 5, 2011