Chapter 28: Eight and Sixteen Matra Cycles

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Chapter 28: Eight and Sixteen Matra Cycles

Here are some of the rare talas which are found in eight or sixteen matra talas. These talas fall in the category of catastra talas.

ADI TALA AND TRITALA

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

Figure 28.1

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 28.1

Adi tala is a tala consisting of eight beats. Its structure is fairly simple. In Carnatic music, there is an adi talam; adi tala and adi talam are vastly different. This tala also shares the exact theka as tritala, with sixteen matras (divided 4+4+4+4). It is all based on layakari.

VISVA VANDITA TALA

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

Figure 28.2

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 28.2

This is another common tala derived from the pakhawaj. Its form is very similar to the Prabhupada tala.

DHUMALI TALA

X				0
1	2	3	4	5		6	7		8
dhin	dhin	dhā	tin	tā	ka	dhin	dha	ge	trkṭa

Figure 28.3

AUDIO CLIP: Figure 28.3

This is an eight matra cycle used rarely on tabla and mostly on pakhawaj. Some musicians will view this as a prakar of kaherva tala. Many contemporary artists will view this as an independent tala.

UPDATED: June 20, 2009