Alap
Encyclopedia
The alap is the opening section of a typical North Indian classical
performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga
. In dhrupad
singing the alap is unmetered, improvised (within the raga) and unaccompanied (except for the tanpura drone
), and started at a slow tempo.
Instead of wholly free improvisation, many musicians perform alap schematically, for example by way of vistar, where the notes of the raga are introduced one at a time, so that phrases never travel further than one note above or below what has been covered before. In such cases, the first reach into a new octave can be a powerful event.
In instrumental music, when a steady pulse is introduced into the alap, it is called jor
; when the tempo has been greatly increased, or when the rhythmic element overtakes the melodic, it is called jhala
(dhrupad: nomtom). The jor
and jhala
can be seen as separate sections of the performance, or as parts of the alap; in the same way, jhala can be seen as a part of jor.
(Several musicologists have proposed much more complicated classifications and descriptions of alap. In the same way as traditional four-part compositions have a sthai, antara, sanchar and abhog, some treat alap with a four-part scheme using the same names. Bengal
i researcher Bimalakanto Raychoudhuri in his Bharatiya Sangeetkosh suggests classification both by length (aochar being the shortest, followed by bandhan, kayed and vistar) and by performance style (according to the four ancient vanis or singing styles – Gohar, Nauhar, Dagar and Khandar), and proceeds to list thirteen stages:
Even though Raychoudhuri admits the 13th stage is wholly extinct today, as we see we are in jhala already at the fourth stage; the sthai-to-abhog movement is all part of the first stage (vilambit); stages six and up are said to be for instrumentalists only. Other authorities have forwarded other classifications. For example, when alap is sung with lyrics or at least syllables, as in dhrupad
, it is called sakshar as opposed to anakshar.)
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
. In dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
singing the alap is unmetered, improvised (within the raga) and unaccompanied (except for the tanpura drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
), and started at a slow tempo.
Instead of wholly free improvisation, many musicians perform alap schematically, for example by way of vistar, where the notes of the raga are introduced one at a time, so that phrases never travel further than one note above or below what has been covered before. In such cases, the first reach into a new octave can be a powerful event.
In instrumental music, when a steady pulse is introduced into the alap, it is called jor
Jor
In Indian music, the jor is a formal section of composition in the long elaboration of a raga that forms the beginning of a performance. Jor is the instrumental equivalent of nomtom in the dhrupad vocal style of Indian music. Both have a simple pulse but no well-defined rhythmic cycle....
; when the tempo has been greatly increased, or when the rhythmic element overtakes the melodic, it is called jhala
Jhala
Jhala is a term in Hindustani classical music which denotes the fast-paced conclusions of classical compositions. It is often characterized by the overwhelming of the melodic component by the rhythmic component. This is sometimes effected by the rapid striking together of the chikari between notes....
(dhrupad: nomtom). The jor
Jor
In Indian music, the jor is a formal section of composition in the long elaboration of a raga that forms the beginning of a performance. Jor is the instrumental equivalent of nomtom in the dhrupad vocal style of Indian music. Both have a simple pulse but no well-defined rhythmic cycle....
and jhala
Jhala
Jhala is a term in Hindustani classical music which denotes the fast-paced conclusions of classical compositions. It is often characterized by the overwhelming of the melodic component by the rhythmic component. This is sometimes effected by the rapid striking together of the chikari between notes....
can be seen as separate sections of the performance, or as parts of the alap; in the same way, jhala can be seen as a part of jor.
(Several musicologists have proposed much more complicated classifications and descriptions of alap. In the same way as traditional four-part compositions have a sthai, antara, sanchar and abhog, some treat alap with a four-part scheme using the same names. Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i researcher Bimalakanto Raychoudhuri in his Bharatiya Sangeetkosh suggests classification both by length (aochar being the shortest, followed by bandhan, kayed and vistar) and by performance style (according to the four ancient vanis or singing styles – Gohar, Nauhar, Dagar and Khandar), and proceeds to list thirteen stages:
- Vilambit
- Madhya
- Drut
- Jhala
- Thok
- Lari
- Larguthav
- Larlapet
- Paran
- Sath
- Dhuya
- Matha
- Paramatha
Even though Raychoudhuri admits the 13th stage is wholly extinct today, as we see we are in jhala already at the fourth stage; the sthai-to-abhog movement is all part of the first stage (vilambit); stages six and up are said to be for instrumentalists only. Other authorities have forwarded other classifications. For example, when alap is sung with lyrics or at least syllables, as in dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
, it is called sakshar as opposed to anakshar.)