Question

During a singing performance under Raga, Tana is one of the processes. The word ‘Tana’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Tann’ which means the extension of Swaras. There are many types of Tanas, i.e. Sapat, Koot, Vakra and Bol Tana, etc. Sometimes, according to the nature of Ragas certain types of Tana are used in them. As a result, the rendering of the varieties of Tanas to maintain the characteristics of the Ragas is necessary to depict the Raga’s picture.
After reading the passage, write one 16-beat Tana, and one 32-beat Tana with Tihai in each of the three Ragas prescribed in your syllabus (Bhairav, Bageshri, Malkauns).

Hint:

To ensure the math is flawless: $18$ beats of running swaras plus a Tihai of three repetitions of $4$ beats separated by two $1$-beat pauses ($4 \times 3 + 2 = 14$) always equals exactly $32$ beats!

Answer 1

Raga Bhairav

(i) 16-beat Tana: \[ \text{Sa Re Ga Ma | Pa Dha Ni Sa' | Sa' Ni Dha Pa | Ma Ga Re Sa} \]

(ii) 32-beat Tana with Tihai: \[ \text{Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa' | Sa' Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa |} \] \[ \text{Ma Ga Re Sa,\; Ma Ga Re Sa,\; Ma Ga Re Sa} \] (Tihai)

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Raga Bageshri

(i) 16-beat Tana: \[ \text{Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Dha Ma Ga | Ma Ga Re Sa Ni Dha Ma Ga} \]

(ii) 32-beat Tana with Tihai: \[ \text{Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa' Ni Dha | Ma Ga Re Sa Ni Dha Ma Ga |} \] \[ \text{Ga Ma Dha Ni,\; Ga Ma Dha Ni,\; Ga Ma Dha Ni} \] (Tihai)

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Raga Malkauns

(i) 16-beat Tana: \[ \text{Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni | Sa' Ni Dha Ma Ga | Ma Dha Ni Sa'} \]

(ii) 32-beat Tana with Tihai: \[ \text{Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa' | Ni Dha Ma Ga Sa | Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa' |} \] \[ \text{Ga Ma Dha Ni,\; Ga Ma Dha Ni,\; Ga Ma Dha Ni} \] (Tihai)

Note:

• A 16-beat Tana is sung in one complete cycle of a 16-matra Tala (such as Teentaal).
• A 32-beat Tana extends over two cycles of a 16-matra Tala.
• Tihai is a phrase repeated three times in succession so that its final note concludes on the Sam, creating a powerful rhythmic ending.
• The Tanas should preserve the characteristic movements (Pakad) and important Swaras of the respective Ragas.