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Can some one please explain to me the difference among dhrupad, khayal and thumri - may be I am putting different sort of fruits in the same basket when I ask about those three together. But I am ignorant, please help.

I read that early ghazal gaayaki used to be based on a variant of one of the above but with the advent of Mehndi Hasan that changed when he experimented a lot. It's this context of ghazal snging that has led me to find more about those!

Thanks.

Anurag

Hi Anurag,

This is the right place to ask the question. Here is the answer from http://www.sudeepaudio.com

Dhrupad:
The most ‘massive and sublime’ form in Indian Classical vocal tradition. Its form strictly follows a fixed pattern of four stanzas : the sthayi, antara, sanchari and abhoga having rigid notes, words and majestic talas, usually in chautala of 12 beats.

Khayal:
In Urdu, ‘Khayal’ means creative thought. Hence, less rigid than dhrupad-singing. It is the most popular classical type of Hindustani vocal music. Sometimes, instrumentalists play in Khayal styles. There is no time-measure.


Thumri:
Described as the expression of the singer’s soul and temperament, thumri is purely romantic or devotional in its content. It came into vogue in the eastern region (Purab) of Uttar Pradesh towards the close of the 18th century as an accompanying song of dance. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Avadh was probably the greatest known patron of thumri. Lucknow and Varanasi (Benaras) are the two centres from where thumri evolved into several varieties.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Chitralekha

More on Dhrupad:

Uttar Hindustani sangeet ka yeh ek praacheen geet prakaar hai. Iss ke shabd Hindi ya Vrij bhasha mein hote hai. Dhrupad mein khaas kar ke veer, gambheer, aur bhakti-ras ke geet gaaye jaate hai. Iss ke chaar mukhya ang hai - sthaayi, antaraa, sanchaari aur aabhog. Yeh geet chautaal, sooltaal, tevraa taalo mein gaaye jaate hai. Dhrupad gaayan mein dugun, tigun, chaugun laykaari ka upyog hota hai. Iss ka upyog ab kam hota jaa raha hai. Lekin sangeet ke vidhyaarthiyon ke swar aur lay ki samajh aur gyaan badhaane ke liye abhyaas-kram mein iss geet prakaar ko sthaan mila hai.

More on Khayal - chhota / badaa

Sangeet premiyon ki pasand mein parivartan aane se dhrupad ka prachaar kam hua aur khayal gaayan ka prayog badha hai. Khayal ka matlab "kalpana". Kalpana-shakti ke aadhaar par gaayak khayal gaaiki pesh karta hai. Khayal geet chhote hote hai, jiss mein sirf sthaayi aur antare ka samavesh kiya jaata hai. Iss prakaar mein aalaap, taan, bol-taan, sargam gaaye jaate hai. Khayal ke do prakaar hai (1) vilambit lay mein gaaye jaate khayaal ko bada khayal kehte hai (2) madhya aur drut-lay mein gaaye jaate khayal ko chhota khayal kehte hai. Bada khayal tilvada, zumaraa, aada chautaal, ektaal, teen-taal jaise taal mein gaaya jaata hai aur chhota khayal teen-taal, ektaal, rupak jaise taal mein gaaya jaata hai.

I wish some of it made some sense to me!!!!

T

C ji,

It isn't you, it's me... I was amused at my ignorance about the theory of music. Isn't it great though, to be able to enjoy it thoroughly despite the ignorance. I don't know a Raaga from a Taal... in a manner of speaking so other than joining Music 101 there's no hope for me!

Maybe that is why I feel so much awa at the melody and lyrics and rhythm and beauty of it all... AMAZING... just amazing is MUSIC... or for that matter any form of Art or Science... any learning...

Ah... I ramble...

T

Hey you shouldnt feel so. Thats why we all are here. To learn from eachother

Rashmi ji is one person on board who has great amount of classical knowledge. Dont know about others yet. There was a time last yr when I was like you. So not a big deal. I am at very beginning stage.

Take a look at this site.
Sudeep Audio : Glossary of music terms

I have some audio samples I will post them as soon as I make mp3s from my tape.

Great work C.

I knew what a thumri & khayal is. I just love Bade Ghulam Ali's 'Aaye Na Balam'.

Didn't know anything about the dhrupad.

Thanks for enlightening us.


p.s Now, madam C is one HOT poster* that we would all like to meet
*-ref unni's post

chitralekha, that was a good explanation that you gave. I speak Hindi so had no problem following your post.

But what are sthayi, antara, sanchari and abhoga? Also, I'd like to see some examples of Dhrupad, Khayal and Thumri being used in say, movie songs or ghazals by Mehndi Hasan or any other ghazal singer whose work is readily available.

Sorry, have been away hence could n't access the post.

Thanks.

Anurag

ok, I found this some great info from http://www.indiaheritage.com/perform/music/m-c-h.htm


Hindustani music makes a clear distinction between the open form (anibaddha) marked by the absence of definite parts and rhythmic accompaniment and the closed form (nibaddha) that has a clear-cut beginning and end, and a definite rhythm. Three major vocal genres have arisen from this categorization:

Dhrupad, Dhumar, and Khayal, and the three light classical genres of Thumri, Tappa, and Tarana.

Go on and read at the original source in detail. It was very enlightening.

Thanx for all the fabulous postings.

It is all very fascinating and intricate too.

I had dreams of becoming a playback singer and wanted to learn vocal classical as I knew it was a necessity but dropped out due to all the complexity involved and the time required..

Hopefully will take to learning when time prevails.


Any further suggestions?



Thanks
Iqbal