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Introduction- Ara Choutaal
Ara Choutaal is a 14-beat rhythm. Rabindranath Tagore introduced this rhythm. Tagore uses this rhythm in his music. This rhythm is a crucial part of Rabindra Sangeet.
Historical Context
Ara Choutaal is a rhythm from Carnatic music. Tagore showed this rhythm in a new way. He created something new by using this rhythm in Bengali music.
Watch a Live Demonstration of Ara Choutaal
The Structure of Ara Choutaal
Ara Choutaal has 14 beats and 4 divisions. Here’s a breakdown of its beat structure:
| Beats (Matra) | 14 |
|---|---|
| Divisions (Vibhag) | 4 (with a pattern of 2|4|4|4) |
| Clap / Taali | 4 (On 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 11th beats) |
| Wave / Khali | None |
| Common Tempo (Laya) | Medium (Madhya) |
Theka for Ara Choutaal
The basic theka for Ara Choutaal 14 Beats is as follows, presented in four rows for clarity:
| 1 | 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Dha | ||
| X (Sam) | |||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Dha | Ge | Den | Ta |
| 2nd Clap | |||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Kat | Tage | Den | Ta |
| 3rd Clap | |||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Tite | Kata | Gadhi | Ghene |
| 4th clap | |||
Understanding the Taal Signs
The symbols in Taal notation guide musicians in understanding rhythmic structure:
- Sam (x): The first and most emphasized beat.
- Taali (2, 3, 4): Claps, represented by the corresponding number.
Application of Ara Choutaal
Ara Choutaal creates a new trend in Bengali music. This rhythm makes the song lively and is special to listeners. It is famous in folk music and Rabindra Sangeet.
Songs with Ara Choutaal in Rabindra Sangeet
Some songs using Ara Choutaal by Rabindranath Tagore include:
- Sabe Ananda Karo
- Shubhro Asone Birajo
Conclusion
Ara Choutaal is a crucial rhythm in Tagore's music. It has 14 beats that make the Rabindra Sangeet sound nice. Music lovers enjoy this rhythm a lot. This taal makes Indian classical music more fine.
