Hindustani forms

Prabandh, dhrupad, khayal, thumri, tarana, Masitkhani and Razakhani gat.

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Prabandh

Prabandh was the main structured song form of early Indian music, described in texts like the Sangeet Ratnakar. A prabandh had sections called dhatus (udgraha, melapaka, dhruva, antara and abhoga) and elements called angas (such as swara, pada, tala and biruda). Later forms like dhrupad grew out of it.

Dhrupad

Dhrupad is the oldest surviving form of Hindustani classical vocal music. It flourished at the court of Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior and is linked with Tansen. Its features:

  • Four parts: sthayi, antara, sanchari and abhog.
  • Language mostly Braj; themes devotional, heroic or praise of kings.
  • Begins with a long nom-tom alap, then the composition with layakari.
  • Accompanied by pakhawaj, in taals such as Chautaal, Sooltaal and Teevra.
  • Four vanis (styles): Gauhar (Gobarhar), Khandar, Nauhar and Dagur.

Songs in Dhamar taal on Holi themes are called dhamar.

Khayal

Khayal (Persian/Arabic for imagination) is today's main classical vocal form. It allows more freedom than dhrupad. It has two parts, sthayi and antara, and is sung as bada khayal (vilambit) followed by chhota khayal (drut), with tabla accompaniment. Its development is traditionally associated with Amir Khusrau, and many famous khayals were composed by Sadarang and Adarang.

Thumri

Thumri is a light-classical, romantic form centred on shringar rasa, in Braj, sung in ragas such as Khamaj, Kafi, Pilu and Bhairavi. It flourished in Lucknow (court of Wajid Ali Shah) and Banaras; the main styles are Poorab ang and Punjab ang. Words and their emotional shades (bol-banao) matter more than strict raga grammar.

Tarana

Tarana uses syllables like "nom, tom, tana, dere, na, dir" instead of meaningful words, usually in drut laya. Its creation is traditionally credited to Amir Khusrau. Its Karnatak counterpart is the tillana.

Instrumental gats

  • Masitkhani gat: a slow (vilambit) gat for sitar in Teentaal, credited to Masit Khan; it traditionally begins from the 12th matra.
  • Razakhani gat: a fast (drut) gat, credited to Raza Khan of Lucknow.

Key points

  • Dhrupad: 4 parts, pakhawaj, Chautaal; khayal: 2 parts, tabla.
  • Thumri: light-classical, shringar, Lucknow and Banaras.
  • Tarana: meaningless syllables; Amir Khusrau.
  • Masitkhani = vilambit; Razakhani = drut.

Common mistakes

  • Giving khayal four parts; that is dhrupad.
  • Swapping Masitkhani (slow) and Razakhani (fast).

Practice questions

Which vocal form is made up of sthayi, antara, sanchari and abhog and is accompanied by the pakhawaj?Easy
A song is sung in fast tempo using syllables such as "tana dere na, dir dir" with no meaningful words. It is a:Easy
Which instrumental composition is a slow sitar gat in Teentaal traditionally starting from the 12th matra?Medium
A singer focuses on expressing the shades of meaning of a romantic Braj text in raga Khamaj, with flexible raga grammar…Medium
Which ruler's court at Gwalior is most closely associated with the flowering of dhrupad?Hard
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