equidistant lines described above is created and seldom deviated from.
The khayal integrates what the dhrupad gives in disintegrated form. It does this through dynamic interaction between its three components ofraag, theka and poetry. To comprehend the nature of this interaction we must understand the nature of each of the elements independently.
The waves of a raag flow around the word.
The word is musically realized in both its phonetic and semantic values. It is treated in unbroken, complete form.
The taal attunes itself to the ongoing waves of the mag and the word; it does not remain taal, it becomes theka.
The voice of the singer has to balance the waves of the bandish. The voice must be broad and deep, and pointed and sharp as well. Sometimes the singer exerts pressure on a particular note, elaborating it into a wave that becomes gradually lighter and thinner. At other times the singer applies equal pressure everywhere, to carve out a zig-zag wave. At all times the voice interacts with the waves - the asymmetrical waves-of the bandish, and modulates itself accordingly. It takes pauses and gives rise to patterns that enhance the sensuous and emotive waves of the bandish.
The khayal presupposes an interaction between the singer and the bandish. It leads, in fact, to a significant interpretation of the bandish which in turn depends upon the mood of the singer and of the connoisseur with whom the singer attempts a dialogue. It is the response of the audience that adds colour to the singing.
* * * +
The entire structure implies a dialectical interaction between what we may now term as form, content and technique. The presentation of a bandish implies the unfolding of a process - of improvization of the song form, of creation and recreation of the composed form. The bandish then acquires an individuality, an identity through the interpretation of the singer depending upon the 'here' and ^ow5 of the presentation. The same bandish thus undergoes changes with different audiences and different moods of the singer.
6 2 July-September 1983