RUPAK TAL (A.K.A. ROOPAK TAL, ROOPAKTAL, RUPAKTAL)
DESCRIPTION
Rupak tal is a common seven beat tal in Northern India.
Rupak tal may be found in almost any musical style. It is found in film songs, kheyal, gazal, instrumental pieces; virtually any north Indian form. The only forms where it is absent are the dhrupad and dhammar styles of singing; it is only absent in these styles because tivra tal serves the same function.
Rupak is unique among the tals in that the first beat ( i.e., the sam) is khali (i.e., represented by a wave of the hand).
The theka of rupak is uncomfortably similar to pashtu tal. The only difference is that many musicians prefer to think of pashtu as consisting entirely of claps; while rupak tal begins with a wave of the hand.
The form of rupak is shown below:
CLAPPING/ WAVING ARRANGEMENT
wave, 2, 3, clap, 2, clap, 2
NUMBER OF BEATS
7
THEKA
Note - This excerpt has been taken from "Learning the Tabla"
(general discussion of theka)For more information check out "Learning the Tabla"
STREAMING AUDIO IN IN RUPAK TAL
- Sri Ram Chandra - A Tulsidas bhajan in praise of Lord Ram. (CD)
- Nijamgane - Song of Sri Sri. (CD)
- Jayabheri - This is a Telugu song in praise of the small. (CD)