Indian Classical Music And Sikh Kirtan
by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982
Laya
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by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982
Laya
Indian Classical Music And Sikh Kirtan by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982 Laya |
| Laya The tempo of the rhythm or the duration of pace or speed is called laya. It is regular spacing of time. Laya is three kinds: vilambit, madhya and drut. Vilambit laya: Slow tempo of the rhythm is called vilambit lays. Each beat lasts for about one second. For example, dadra has six matras. Instead of counting six matras (beats) one after the other like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 vilambit laya will prolong it in the following manner. Vilambit laya ---ISS --- ISS ---ISS ---ISS ---ISS ---ISS Matra 1 2 3 4 5 6 + (Tali) 0(Khali) (S stands for prolongation of rhythm) The following are some of the tals of vilambit lays: ektal, chartal, jhumra , tilwara. Madhya laya: Medium tempo of the rhythm is called madhya laya. It can be compared to the ticking of about half second of the clock. Some of the tals of madhya lays are teental, jhaptal, dadra, kehrva. Drut laya: is doubly quicker in tempo than the madhya laya. The tals of drut laya are the same as in madhya tal, the difference being that they are done quicker. Each beat lasts for about one-quarter second. Tarana and chota khayal use drut laya. |