Evolution of the Tabla

Why in News?

Recently, the death of Ustad Zakir Hussain provided an occasion for the reopening of debates among the origins and evolution of the tabla.

• Word ‘tabla’ – It comes from the Arabic word ‘tabl’ which means Drum.
• Origin – while some trace its origin to Persian Naqarra, Hussain traced the origin story of the tabla through the evolution of the styles of dhrupad and khayal.

Dhrupad, a form of Indian Classical music, its origin can be traced back to the chanting of vedic hymns and mantras. It is a form of the Gandharva Veda, the Vedic science of music, which is a branch of Sama Veda.

• The most common disagreement concerns whether or not the tabla originated in pre-Islamic India.

• Evolution – The classical tabla is a relatively recent tradition, most likely beginning sometime in the 1700s.
• It became the main accompaniment instrument for the vocal style known as khyal which helped to raise tabla’s status and popularity.

Amir Khusrau was patronised by Sultan Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) of Delhi.

• Major developments – It took place during the reign of Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi (1719-1748), whose court host the launch of the sitar and maturation of khayal vocalism.

Muhammad Shah was an aesthete, and a great patron of music and the other arts, because of which he was referred to as “Rangeela”, the Colourful.

• Tabla gharanas - they are different from vocal and other instrumental gharanas and rest on 3 broad principles
  • The technique.
  • The style of composition - Language/ construction/ phraseology of the tabla syllable in various compositions.
  • The individual philosophy of the great masters of each school.
• 6 gharanas of tabla – They are known by the places where they evolved.
  • Punjab, Purab (also known as the Banaras gharana), Delhi, Ajrara, Lucknow and Farrukhabad.
• Baaj (playing style) –It is more pakhawaj-based for the 1^st 2 gharanas.
• Purab’s crisp and clear sounds are very well suited to Kathak.
• Punjab gharana – A mathematical approach, with difficult divisions of beats, is preferred.
• It had offshoots or sub-gharanas such as Talwandi and Naiwala.

Reference

The Indian Express| Evolution of the Tabla and its Various Gharanas