''Taan'' (
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
: , ) is a technique used in the vocal performance of a
raga
A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...
in
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...
. It involves the improvisation of very rapid melodic passages using vowels, often the long "a" as in the word "far", and it targets at improvising and to expand weaving together the notes in a fast tempo. It is similar to the technique ''
ahaat ''Ahaat'' () is a technique used in Arabic vocal music, involving the use of extended melodic variations on the syllable "a." The technique, which gives the impression of a sigh, is typically used to express strong emotion such as longing, sorrow, o ...
'', used in Arabic music, or like an
arpeggio
An arpeggio () is a type of Chord (music), chord in which the Musical note, notes that compose a chord are individually sounded in a progressive rising or descending order. Arpeggios on keyboard instruments may be called rolled chords.
Arpe ...
in Western music.
The ''murki'', a type of
ornamentation
An ornament is something used for decoration.
Ornament may also refer to:
Decoration
* Ornament (art), any purely decorative element in architecture and the decorative arts
* Ornamental turning
* Biological ornament, a characteristic of animals ...
, is a swift, short and taan-like movement that is heavily used in
thumri
Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dram ...
.
Types
Taans are clustered in different types:
''Bol Taan'' : Taan can be sung by utilizing the words of the bandish. This is a difficult type of a taan as in this correct pronunciation, meaning of the composition, everything has to be taken into consideration.
''Shuddha/Sapat (Straight) Taan'' : The notes are placed in an order in one or more octaves.
''Koot Taan'' : The notes do not remain in order. Therefore, the nature of ''Koot Taans'' is complicated.
''Mishra Taan'' : Combination of sapat and koot taans.
''Gamak Taan'' : Gamak is a technique by which a force is added to notes and each note is repeated at least twice.
Many other types of taan exist, e.g. Ladant taan, Zatkaa taan, Gitkari taan, Jabde ki taan, Sarok Taan, Halak Taan or Palat taan.
See also
*
Svara
Swara () or svara is an Indian classical music term that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, a note, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave, or ''saptanka''. More comprehensively ...
References
Hindustani music
Hindustani music terminology
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