Essential Odissi terminology:
- Alap In Indian classical music this is the slow introductory movement in raga. It is free of rhythm.
- Anadha Hide category of the 4 musical divisions, eg Mardala, Tabla, and Mridangam.
- Asanjukta Dhvanis Sound created by striking the Mardala with one hand.
- Avartan(a) One complete cycle of a taal.
- Bani Odissi term used to describe the spoken drum neumonics. During dance performances Bani are spoken by the percussionist or the guru.
- Bansuri A flute used in Indian music. You can see Lord Krishna often playing the Bansuri. Typically 6 holes, although older version had 7.
- Bhago In taal, this would be the groups the taal is divided into. Also the points on which the tali, or khali would be. eg, Adital (Odissi) is divided into 4 groups of 4 beats. It is said that Adital has 4 Bhago. These are the measures. Odissi music term.
- Bhajan Devotional song.
- Bharata Natyam One of the classical dances of India. This is the Carnatic Classical Indian dance form, whose style was performed by women temple dancers. You will see that this dance is prevalent in Tamil Nadu region of India. Accompanied by the Mridangam.
- Bol(s) Derived from the hindi word bolna - to speak. These are the spoken syllables mimicing the sounds of the drum, eg. ta, dha, thini, etc. In Odissi music these are called Bani.
- Champa The outer and inner (for the right side) ring of hide that holds the inner layer of hide (lago) intact. The right side is made from goat hide and the left side is made from cow hide.
- Chhau A classical dance of India originating around Orissa, Bihar, and Bengal. In this dance there is a strong foundation in martial arts.
- Chondo In tal, this would be how the divisions of the tal are divided. eg, in Adital (Odissi), the sixteen beats are divided into 4 groups of 4. So the Chondo for Adital is 4 + 4 + 4 + 4. This describes what the Bhagos are.
- Devadasis Original temple dancers who were "servitresses of God"
- Deba Prasad Das, late One of the great gurujis of Odissi dance. He was among Kelucharan Mohapatra and Pankaj Charan Das as the founders of modern Odissi..
- Dharana The 1st laya of each tal which denotes what the tal is, and is a fixed composition. In Hindustani music this is called the Theka.
- Dholak The barrel-shaped, two-headed drum. Used in a lot of folk style performances.
- Dhvani These describe the various sounds that you make when striking the Mardala's head(s). There are correct ways to strike the drum head that will elicit the singular Dhvani
- Gajara Hide, braided strap that the Pitha are sewed through to create a ring that holds tension onto the drum heads.
- Ghana Metal or brass category of the 4 musical divisions, eg. Bells, Gongs, and Manjira.
- Gita Govinda Jayadev's famous poem depicting the life of Radha and Krishna. Themes from this poem tremendously affect the classical arts of India.
- Goti The barrel-shaped tension pegs which adorn the Mardala. These are made from wood and can be shifted and more straps (Pitha) can overlap them to create more or less tension for tuning.
- Gotipua Young boys trained in the fine art of Odissi dance. The Gotipuas were allowed to leave the temple and dance for the public. The current form of Odissi is heavily influenced by the Gotipua tradition (and also the temple carvings from Orissa.)
- Guru or Guruji Literally "teacher". A master of some sort, who one would typically study under. I studied with Guruji Dhanuswar Swain, so I would address him as "Guruji" and his wife "Guruma".
- Guruma The name for the wife of your guru (if your guru is male, duh!). This is the respectable title of her and the only one you will need. You may find this different depending on where you are studying, but in India this is what you would call her.
- Jagganath Lord and God of Orissa and Odissi arts. He is characteristically very happy =)
- Jagganath Temple One of the holy centers of India, the great Jagganath temple of Puri, Orissa. Non-hindus are not allowed entrance, but you can sneak a peak of the common grounds there from across the street, in the upstairs area of a bookshop.
- Kathak One of the classical dances of India from the northern region around Dehli, but expands as far as Bihar to Rajasthan to Kashmir. This dance form is a mix of Hindu and Islamic culture. Emphasis is on the footwork with the rhythm. Accompanied by Tabla.
- Kathakali One of the classical dances of India. This dance form comes from the state of Kerala and is identified by long performances and elaborate costumes that take hours to put on.
- Kelucharan Mohapatra, late One of the greatest Odissi gurujis of modern Odissi dance and one of the greatest Mardala musicians of all time. He started an Odissi school, SrJan, which thrives today under his son and daughter-in-law. His wife, who also was a great dancer, Laxmi Priya, still lives at SrJan. He was awarded (by the president of India) one of the highest awards in India for classical arts, the Padma Bibhusan
- Kirana The black, composite material made from a secret mixture of powdered carbon and soaked rice. When applied correctly it creates a thick paste that is worked into the many layers to create the distinct tones of the Mardala. I would say it takes a fine craftsman to apply this flawlessly.
- Khali This is the 'wave of the hand' when counting beats in a taal. A soft beat.
- Khondi When banis, ukuttos, and khondo ukuttos are formed to create phrases that are contained within one avartan, or taal cycle. Often the khondi starts where the khali beat lands.
- Khondo Ukutto When bani and ukuttos are formed together to make phrases. eg, Kititaka gadigana. Odissi term.
- Kuchipudi One of the classical dances of India. Kuchipudi is a dance drama from the state of Andhra Pradesh. Originally performed by men for show of devotion, it is now performed by both men and women.
- Lago The inner layer of hide on the Mardala drum heads that the kirana is afixed to.
- Laya Indian musical equivalent to tempo. But rather than thinking totally in bpm's, like western music, it reflects the layering of rhythm, ie, single speed, double speed, 4 x's speed.
- Manipuri A classical Indian dance form originating from the Manipur state of India.
- Mano The ending sequence that is repeated to designate that the ending of the piece or of a section. Typically in 3 repeats. Odissi term. People in Orissa inter change Tihai and Mano. But they mean the same.
- Maharis or devadasis, the original temple dancers of Orissa, but now extinct. This is the root of Odissi dance that was later taught to young boys, Gotipuas. The style is now modernized and work is being done to preserve it.
- Matra Beat. So a 6 beat taal would be said to have 6 matras.
- Mohini Attam One of the major classical dances of India from the state of Kerala. Originally performed by devadasis in the temples of Kerala.
- Odissi Dance One of the major classical dances of India, originating in the temples of Orissa by the Maharis, and through archeological evidence, may be the oldest classical dance in India. Almost a lost art by the early part of the 20th century. It was revived during the 50's by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and Guru Pankaj Charan Das. Today there are two disciplines - Mahari and Gotipua. The Mahari style is lesser known and great strides are being taken to keep it alive. Accompanied by Mardala.
- Pakuaj or Pakhawaj Hindustani Classical, two-headed percussion instrument. On the Bayan, or left side, a temporary fixture of flour and water is fixed to the hide to create the low resonance. Nowadays the Hindustani Pakuaj is mostly associated with Drupad style of northern Indian music. The Tabla has replaced it as the primary classical accompaniment.
- Pallavi In Odissi dance, this is the "flowering", or beautiful dance. Not meant for spirituallity, but for showing off a dancers ability and beautiful dance choreography.
- Pankaj Charan Das, late He is the son of a Mahari dancer and one of the reformers for modern Odissi dance. Guruji to Kelucharan Mahapatra and Ratna Roy, amongst others.
- Pitha The straps that are used to put tension on the drum heads of the Mardala. Made from cow hide and is a single piece. New versions are out that use synthetic fibers and hold up much stronger against wear (see my links section for Tabla Vermont).
- Pura The name for the head of the drum. The Mardala has two Puras, left and right.
- Rela A cycle of rhythm that is circular, always going. Hindustani term.
- Riyaz Practice, in the sense of devoting all of yourself to master something, like practicing the Mardala hours on end.
- Sam The essential beat of Indian music. It is the first note of the Taal and everything must end and begin on this beat. It is the beat that Indian music resolves on.
- Sanjukta Dhvanis Using both hands to strike the Mardala and produce the right sound. See also Asanjukta Dhvanis.
- Siyahi The black composite applied to the Indian classical drums, eg, the Mardala, Pakuaj, and the Tabla, etc. This is the Hindustani term. The Odissi term is Kirana.
- Susira Wind category of the 4 musical divisions, eg. Shehnai, Harmonium, and Bansuri.
- Tabla A double set of drums, the right, smaller side, Dayan, and the left larger (bass) side, Bayan. It is most commonly associated with Hindustani classical music, but can be heard in everythng from folk to electronic. Probably the most popular Indian classical drum. Legend has it that a Pakuaj was cut in half to create the first set of Tablas.
- Taal Cycle of beats in a particular pattern. eg. a 6 beat tal can be 3 + 3 beats, 2 + 4 beats, or 4 + 2 beats. This is the rhythm system in classical Indian music. Also called Tala or Tal.
- Tali This is the clapping pattern in a Tal. Each Tal has a certain number of Tali. Also see Khali
- Tat String category of the 4 musical divisions, eg. Tanbura, Sitar, and Ektar.
- Theka The 1st laya of each tal which denotes what the tal is, and is a fixed composition. Hindustani term. See also Dharana
- Tihai The ending sequence that is repeated to designate that the ending of the piece or of a section. Typically in 3 repeats. Hindustani term. See also Mano.
- Ukutto Combinations of bani to produce "words" that are played on the Mardala. eg. Dhi + ni would become the Ukutto - Dhini.
