Kala refers to the change of tempo during a rendition of a song, typically doubling up the speed.
The tala keeps track of the number of beats in a cycle. Once the tala is started, the number of beats per minute cannot change. This speed of the piece of music is referred to as the kaala pramana of the piece. Hence, for a given piece of music if the number of notes per beat remains constant then there is no feeling of change in tempo. The tempo of the music can be varied, while keeping the kaala pramana the same, by varying the number of notes per beat. Various ways of effecting a change in tempo (not kaala pramana) are:
The baseline speed of a piece of music (determined by the number of notes per beat and number of beats per minute) is referred to as Sama kaala. Sama kaala can have any number of notes per beat. Typical songs in carnatic music have three or four notes per beat depending on how they are composed. Typical beginner’s lessons in carnatic music have one note (sarali swarams or geethams) or two notes (jantai swarams) per beat.
In colloquial language, reference is made to first speed, second speed and third speed renditions. First speed is Sama kaala. A doubling of speed is called second speed and a quadrupling of speed is third speed.
Avartham refers to a cycle or a round of rhythmic beats. It is the basic unit of time in a composition and is often repeated throughout the performance. Avartham is essential for maintaining the rhythmic structure and coordination among the musicians and dancers.
Aksharam refers to the number of musical notes that we fit in a beat. This is the unit of musical time. So, depending on how many notes we fit into each beat, the name of the kalam (or speed) changes.
1st speed: 1 Aksharam or Note per beat – So we get (1 X 8) = 8 Aksharams in 1 cycle of Adi Tala
2nd speed: 2 Aksharams per beat – (2 X 8) = 16 Akshrams in 1 cycle of Adi Tala
3rd speed: 4 Aksharams per beat – (4 X 8) = 32 Aksharams in 1 cycle of Adi Tala
The basics of carnatic music are usually performed in three speeds.
Types of Kaalas:
Assume that a piece of music is originally set to two notes per beat, i.e., Sama kaala is two notes per beat. One Aavarthanam or cycle of chathushra jaati triputa tala ( l00 ) or adi tala of 8 beats is shown below. The ‘|’ symbol indicates the separation between angas and the ‘||’ symbol indicates the end of an aavarthanam or cycle.
|| SR GM PD NS | SN DP | MG RS ||
The Sama kaala when slowed down to half the speed is called Keezh kaala. In keezh kaala, there will be one note per beat and it will take two cycles to complete.
|| S R G M | P D | N S || || S N D P | M G | R S ||
The Sama kaala when sped up to twice the speed is called Mel kaala. In mel kaala, there will be four notes per beat and it will take half a cycle to complete. Since the cycle is incomplete, two repetitions complete one cycle.
|| SRGM PDNS SNDP MGRS | SRGM PDNS | SNDP MGRS ||
The Sama kaala when sped up to one and half times the speed is called as Tishram. In Tishram, there will be three notes per beat and it takes two-thirds of a cycle to complete. Since the cycle is incomplete, three repetitions are required to complete two cycles.
|| SRG MPD NSS NDP | MGR SSR | GMP DNS ||
|| SND PMG RSS RGM | PDN SSN | DPM GRS ||
The Sama kaala when sped up to two and half times is called Khandam. In Khandam, there will be five notes per beat and it takes two-fifths of a cycle to complete. Since the cycle is incomplete, five repetitions are required to complete two cycles.
|| SRGMP DNSSN DPMGR SSRGM | PDNSS NDPMG | RSSRG MPDNS ||
|| SNDPM GRSSR GMPDN SSNDP | MGRSS RGMPD | NSSND PMGRS ||
The Sama kaala when sped up to three times the speed is called Mel kaala Tishram. In mel kaala Tishram, there will be six notes per beat and it takes one-third of a cycle to complete. Since the cycle is incomplete, three repetitions complete one cycle.
|| SRGMPD NSSNDP MGRSSR GMPDNS | SNDPMG RSSRGM | PDNSSN DPMGRS||
(The Sama kaala is taken as two notes per beat for demonstration, although, it is usually sung with one note per beat.)
The basic speed variations are Keezh kaala, Sama kaala, Mel kaala, Tishram, Khandam, and Mel kaala Tishram. Various combinations of speed variations can be worked out to make music more interesting. The table lists other speeds that many great musicians are able to carry off like anu Keezh kaala (one-fourth the speed of Sama kaala), Keezh kaala Tishram (three-fourths the speed of Sama kaala), Mishram (three and half times the speed of Sama kaala), Ati mel kaala (four times the speed of Sama kaala), and Sankeernam (four and half times the speed of Sama kaala) and some others.
The table below summarizes the speed variations, where:
f- is the speed factor ratio of increase/decrease in speed from Sama kaala,
c- is the cycles completed fraction for one cycle of Sama kaala,
r- are the repetitions of number of times the original cycle of Sama kaala must be repeated for the tala to be completed and
T- are the number of cycles completed in the new kaala.
Eduppu
Graha: The place in a tala where the song begins is called "Graha". This is also known as "Eduppu". Eduppu means "starting point". Eduppu can be two ways. One is "Sama" and the other is "Vishama". When a song begins at the first beat of a tala, it is Sama. When a song begins either before or after the stroke of tala, it is Vishama. So, Vishama can further be classified into two. They are,
(a).Athitha: When the song begins first and that is followed by tala beat later, it is called "Athitha Eduppu" or Athitha Graha.
(b) Anaagatha: When a tala begins first and the song follows it later, it is called "Anaagatha Eduppu" or Anaagatha Graha.
In a song there can be both Athitha and Anaagatha, where it is called "Ushi".
Graha: The place in a tala where the song begins is called "Graha". This is also known as "Eduppu". Eduppu means "starting point". Eduppu can be two ways. One is "Sama" and the other is "Vishama". When a song begins at the first beat of a tala, it is Sama. When a song begins either before or after the stroke of tala, it is Vishama. So, Vishama can further be classified into two. They are,
(a).Athitha: When the song begins first and that is followed by tala beat later, it is called "Athitha Eduppu" or Athitha Graha.
(b) Anaagatha: When a tala begins first and the song follows it later, it is called "Anaagatha Eduppu" or Anaagatha Graha.
In a song there can be both Athitha and Anaagatha, where it is called "Ushi".