''Tihai'' (pronounced ti-'ha-yi) is a
polyrhythmic
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rhyth ...
technique found in
Indian classical music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as ''Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
, and often used to conclude a piece. Tihais can be either sung or played on an instrument. Tihais are sometimes used to distort the listeners’ perception of time, only to reveal the consistent underlying cycle at the sam.
Definition
Tihai is the repetition of specific group of BOL or BEATS by three times.
Usage
Typically, a ''tihai'' is used as a rhythmic cadence, i.e., a rhythmic variation that marks the end of a melody or rhythmic composition, creating a transition to another section of the music.
Structure
The basic internal format of the ''tihai'' is three equal repetitions of a rhythmic pattern (or rhythmo-melodic pattern), interspersed with 2 (usually) equal rests.
The ending point of the ''tihai'' is calculated to fall on a significant point in the rhythmic cycle (called ''
tala
Tala may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Tala (comics), a fictional character in DC comics
*''Tala'', a 1938 volume of poetry by Gabriela Mistral
*Tala (music), a rhythmic pattern in Indian classical music
* "Tala" (song), by Sarah Geronimo ...
''), most often the first beat (called ''
sum
Sum most commonly means the total of two or more numbers added together; see addition.
Sum can also refer to:
Mathematics
* Sum (category theory), the generic concept of summation in mathematics
* Sum, the result of summation, the additio ...
'' and pronounced "some").
The other most common ending point of a ''tihai'' is the beginning of the ''
gat #REDIRECT GAT
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'' or ''
bandish
Bandish, cheez or gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhawaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, v ...
'', which is often found several beats before the ''sum''.
If the three groupings are played with two groupings of rests, which are equally long, then the tihai is called ''
Dumdaar''.
Otherwise, if there are no rests between the three groupings, then the tihai is called ''
Bedumdaar'' (or for short, ''
Bedum'').
Sometimes, a pattern is played