A Theka (IAST: Ṭhekā) literally means "support, prop".1 The term also refers to a musical composition in classical Indian music for percussion instruments that establish a rhythm (Chanda), beats (Matras) and the metric cycle of beats (Tala) in a performance.1 An example is the theka of Dadra Tal: "Dha Dhi Na / Na Ti Na".
A theka is the basic rhythmic phrase of a particular tala.2 It is the underlying repeated pattern that shapes the time cycle of a musical expression.3 Theka is a term used by the drummers such as the tabla players.456
References
References
- Caudhurī 2000, p. 151.
- Te Nijenhuis 1974, pp. 60, 92.
- Kayal, Encyclopædia Britannica, Quote: "The rhythm of the melodic performance is nonmetric, but the percussion accompaniment is cast in a tala, and the time cycle is shaped by the repeated pattern (theka) performed by the accompanist."
- Randel 2003, p. 878.
- Jairazbhoy 1995, p. 30.
- Nettl et al. 1998, p. 124.
Bibliography
- Caudhurī, Vimalakānta Rôya (2000). The Dictionary of Hindustani Classical Music. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1708-1.
- Daniélou, Alain (1949). Northern Indian Music, Volume 1. Theory & technique; Volume 2. The main rāgǎs. London: C. Johnson. OCLC 851080.
- Jairazbhoy, Nazir Ali (1995), The Rāgs of North Indian Music: Their Structure & Evolution (first revised Indian ed.), Bombay: Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-81-7154-395-3
- Martinez, José Luiz (2001). Semiosis in Hindustani Music. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1801-9.
- Mehta, Tarla (1995). Sanskrit Play Production in Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1057-0.
- Monier-Williams, Monier (1899). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. London: Oxford University Press.
- Nettl, Bruno; Ruth M. Stone; James Porter; Timothy Rice (1998), The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-8240-4946-1
- Randel, Don Michael (2003). The Harvard Dictionary of Music (fourth ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01163-2.
- Te Nijenhuis, Emmie (1974). Indian Music: History and Structure. BRILL Academic. ISBN 90-04-03978-3.