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Chapter 27: Five, Ten, and Fifteen Matra Cycles

This chapter, as the title suggests, are dealing with talas that are multiples of fives. The reason why multiples of five is given is because it is helpful to study these talas as multiples of fives. Recall from Chapter 6 that talas that are multiples of five are known as khanda jati.

ADHA JHAPTAL

X(0)		2
1	2	3	4	5
tin	nā	dhin	dhin	nā

Figure 27.1

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 27.1

The name alone says that it is from the ten matra jhaptal from Chapter 13. The word “adha” means “half.” Recall from Chapter 8, when we dealt with “adha tintal” bearing eight matras. Therefore, adha jhaptal will have five beats. The structure is pretty straight-forward.

SULA TALA

X		0		2		3				0
1	2	3	4	5	6	7		8		9		10
dhā	dhā	dhin	tā	dhin	tā	ti	ra	ki	ṭa	ga	di	ga	na

Figure 27.2

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 27.2

Sula tala is a pakhawaj tala that consists of ten beats. Unlike adha jhaptal which makes cameos here and there in bhajans and folk music, sula tala is rarely ever heard.

GAJ JHAMPA TALA

X								2
1		2		3		4		5
dhā		dhi	nā	nā	ga	dhet		dhet
						0
6		7		8		9		10
dhi	nā	nā	ga	dhet		dhet		dhi	nā
		3
11		12		13		14		15
nā	ga	ti	ra	ki	ṭa	ga	di	ga	na

Figure 27.3

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 27.3

This is a fifteen matra tala which is pretty much divided up into three sets of fives. It is very difficult to play the tala, let alone attempting to sing a song with it.

PANCHAM SAVARI

X		2								0
1		2		3			4			5
dhin		dhā	tiṭa	dhā	dhā		tin		nā	ta		trkṭ
				0					3
6		7		8			9			10
tin	nā	trkṭ	tu	tin	nā		ke		dhā	tiṭa		dhin
		4		5					6
11		12		13			14			15
nā	dhin	dhin	nā	dhin		dhā		ge	dhin		dhā		ge

Figure 27.4

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 27.4

Pancam Savari tala is another fifteen matra tala. There is a whole category of talas known as “savari.” Notice the interesting “tod-like” ending to the tala.

UPDATED: June 20, 2009