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Chapter 29: Six, Seven, Twelve, and Fourteen Matra Cycles

 

BANGLA EKTAL

X

 

 

2

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

gha

ti

ra

gha

ti

gha

ti

ra

gha

ti

0

 

 

 

 

 

7

8

9

10

11

12

gha

ti

ra

ki

ti

ki

ti

ra

ki

ti

 

Figure 29.1

This is actually a Bengali version of ektal. This is heard in classical Bengali bhajans. It is not like the regular ektal that we studied before. The format of the tala is very similar to that of tintal.

 

CAUTALA

X

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

dhin

dhin

dhā

dhin

2

 

 

 

5

6

7

8

ki

ṭa

tin

dhā

tin

3

 

4

 

9

10

11

12

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

ga

di

ga

na

 

Figure 29.2

Cautala or chautal is an ancient pakhawaj tala in twelve beats used in an ancient musical form known as “dhrupada.” While that form of music is on the decline, so is the use of this tala. The format of this tala is very similar to that of adi tala’s.

 

VIKRAM TALA

X

2

0

 

3

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

dhā

dhet

 

din

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

ga

di

ga

na

 

Figure 29.3

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 29.3

Vikram tala is a very simple six beat cycle used in lighter forms of music where pakhawaj might have been used.

 

JHUMARA TALA

X

 

 

2

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

dhin

 

dhā

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

dhin

dhin

dhā

ge

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

0

 

 

3

 

 

 

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

tin

 

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

dhin

dhin

dhā

ge

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

 

Figure 29.4

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 29.4

Jhumara tala is a fourteen matra cycle that is usually played in a vilambit lay. It was once of the most popular choices for rhythm in vilambit lay. However, one will rarely hear this tala. Musicians will have preference with vilambit ektal or vilambit tintal.

 

TIVRA TALA

X

 

 

2

 

3

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

dhā

dhin

ti

ra

ki

ṭa

ga

di

ga

na

 

Figure 29.5

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 29.5

The ancient tala used in Bengali music and played on pakhawaj is the ancient predecessor of the rupak tala we use today.

 

DHAMAR TALA

X

 

 

 

 

2

 

0

 

 

3

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

ka

dhi

ṭa

dhi

ṭa

dhā

ga

ti

ṭa

ti

ṭa

 

Figure 29.6

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 29.6

Dhamar tala is a fourteen beat cycle divided in a very unique way; 5-2-3-4. This tala is very common in dhrupada and dhamar music. Dhamar is actually dhrupad form singing glories of Lord Krsna’s pastimes in the Holi festival.

 

BRAHMA TALA

X

 

2

3

1

2

3

4

dhā

ti

ṭa

dhet

dhin

 

4

5

6

5

6

7

8

dhā

ge

dhet

dhet

dhin

 

0

 

 

9

10

11

12

ga

dhā

ge

ti

ṭa

ka

ṭa

7

 

 

13

14

 

ga

di

ga

na

 

 

Figure 29.7

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 29.7

Here is another ancient fourteen matra pakhawaj tala.

UPDATED: June 20, 2009