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Tagore's Unnamed Taals Part 1: The Basics | TablaTheka

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An illustrative guide for Tagore's unnamed taal part 1

Exploring Rabindranath Tagore's Beautiful Unnamed Taals

Rabindranath Tagore was not just a poet and composer; he was a master of rhythm. For his songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet, he often created unique rhythmic cycles (Taals) that broke free from traditional classifications. Many of these beautiful rhythms remain unnamed, identified only by their beat count (matra) and divisions (vibhag). This post is the first part of a series exploring these special taals.

Why Are These Taals Unnamed?

Tagore believed that the emotional essence (bhaav) of a song was paramount. To preserve the natural flow of his lyrics and melodies, he often deviated from the strict rules of classical taals. His goal was to enhance the song's emotion through rhythm, rather than confining it to a predefined structure. This is why these taals are known by their structure, not by a formal name.

The 12-Beat Unnamed Taal

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12-Beat Taal Details
Structure4 Divisions (2 | 4 | 2 | 4)
Tali (Claps)4 claps on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 9th beats.
Example Song"Aji Jhoro Jhoro Mukhoro Badolo Dine"
12 3456
DhiNa DhaDhiDhiNa
X (Sam) 2(Clap)
78 9101112
TiNa DhaDhiDhiNa
3(Clap) 4(Clap)

The 11-Beat Unnamed Taal

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11-Beat Taal Details
Structure3 Divisions (3 | 4 | 4)
Tali (Claps)3 claps on the 1st, 4th, and 8th beats.
Example Song"Knapiche Deholota Thoro Thoro"
123 4567
DhaDhiNa DhiDhiDhiNa
X (Sam) 2(Clap)
891011
DhaDhiNageTite
3(Clap)

The 10-Beat Unnamed Taals

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This beat count features multiple popular variations in Rabindra Sangeet.

Variation 1 (3 | 2 | 3 | 2)

123 45
DhiDhiNa DhiNa
X (Sam) 2(Clap)
678 910
TiTiNa DhiNa
3(Clap) 4(Clap)

Example Song: "Pakhi Bole Champa Amare"

Variation 2 (5 | 5)

12345
DhaDhiDhiNaDhi
X (Sam)
678910
NaDhiDhiNaDhi
2(Clap)

Example Song: "O Dekha Diye Je Chole Gelo"

How to Approach Learning These Taals

Learning these unique taals requires a different approach than traditional ones. Here are some fundamental tips:

  • Start with Padhant: Before touching the tabla, recite the bols (Padhant) aloud while clapping (taali) to internalize the rhythmic structure and divisions.
  • Feel the Song's Pulse: Listen to the example songs repeatedly. Try to feel how the rhythm follows the words and melody. The rhythm in Rabindra Sangeet is a companion to the poetry.
  • Break It Down: Practice each division (vibhag) of the taal separately. Once you are comfortable with each part, combine them to play the full cycle.

Coming Up in Part 2

You have now learned about the 12, 11, and 10-beat unnamed taals. In the next part of this series, we will dive into the more complex and fascinating rhythms, including the various forms of the 9-beat taal, along with the 7, 6, and 4-beat cycles.

Continue to Part 2: Advanced Unnamed Taals of Tagore →

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