The Art of Tabla Rhythm: Essentials, Tradition and Creativity 8124603685

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New Vistas in Indian Performing Arts, no. 8

THE ART OF TABLA RHYTHM Essentials, Tradition and Creativity

Sudhir Kumar Saxena Formerly Professor of Music Faculty of Performing Arts M.S. University, Vadodara

Sangeet Natak Akademi New Delhi

D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. New Delhi

Cataloging in Publication Data - DK

[Courtesy: D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd. ]

Saxena, Sudhir Kumar, 1923The ai;of tabla rhythm : essentials, tradition and creativity / Sudhir Kwnar Saxena. xv, 184 p. 25 cm. -(New vistas in Indian performing arts; no. 8) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 8124603685 1. Tabla - Methods. 2. Musical meter and rhythm - India. I. Title. Il. Series: New vistas in Indian perfroming arts; no. 8. DOC 786.93

22

ISBN 81-246-0368-5 First Published in India in 2006 © Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission of both the copyright holder, indicated above, and the publishers. Published by: Sangeet Natak Akademi National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, India Regd. office : Rabindra Bhavan, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi - 110 001 Phones : (011) 2338 7246; 2338 7248; Fax : (011) 2338 2659 and D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. Regd. office : 'Sri Kunj,' F-52, Bali Nagar, New Delhi - 110 015 Phones : (011) 2545-3975; 2546-6019; Fax : (011) 2546-5926 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.dkprintworld.com Printed by: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd., New Delhi.

To the memory of

Ustad Habeebuddin Khan my main mentor in the art of Tablll rhythm and

Madhukar N. Gurav a pupil unforgettable

Contents Plan of Transliteration

vii

Preface

xi

Acknowledgement

xv

1. Introduction

1

2. Alphabets of Rhythm and Ways to Play Them

13

3. Reyaz or The Discipline of Practice

37

4. Vocabulary of Tabla Rhythm

45

5. Two Idioms of Tabla Rhythm: Solo and Accompaniment

61

6. Gharanas of Tabla

75

7. Principles of Composition

129

8. Creativity at Work Author's Own Compositions

139

9. Epilogue

169

Glossarial Index

181

Preface THIS book climaxes a lifelong interest. Rhythm has fascinated me from my very childhood; and so this academic fruition of my commitment to the art, at the age of eighty-three years, is very satisfying. As I grew up, I had the privilege of nurturing the interest in every possible way, namely, the following: first, years of systematic and dedicated learning under the doyen of the Ajralcctcfi mm mm mm fcctcfi mm mm

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