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TAALAM
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absolute duration of an aksharam is not fixed and it
varies, depending on the composition and the mood
of the performer. This is similar to the way in which the absolute pitch
of the swaras is not fixed but defined
only relative to the reference pitch or sruthi. The
aksharam is further divided into a number of swaras and this
division is referred to as gathi or nadai. Four swaras per aksharam
is standard and is termed Chaturasra nadai.The other standard divisions and the
associated number of swaras per aksharam are Tisra (three), Khanda
(five), Misra (seven) and Sankirna (nine). These divisions apply to medium
tempo or Madhyama Kaalam. The divisions can be doubled to yield a fast tempo
termed Dhuritha Kaalam or halved to yield the slow Chowka
Kaalam. Further doubling and halving are also possible but rarely heard. Most
of Dikshithar's compositions have the last line of Anupallavi and
Charanam (see Elements of Recital section for definitions) set to
Dhuritha Kaalam. |
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