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{{short description|Type of composition in Hindustani classical vocal music}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Hindustani Classical Music}}
'''''Tarana''''' is a type of composition in [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani classical]] vocal music in which certain words (e.g. "odani", "todani", "tadeem" and "yalali") based on [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] phonemes are rendered at a medium (''madhya laya'') or fast (''drut laya'') rate. It was invented by [[Amir Khusro]] (1253–1325 CE)<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Massey
 | first = Reginald
 | title = India's Dances
 | year = 2004
 | publisher = Abhinav Publications
 | pages = 13
 | isbn = 81-7017-434-1
}}</ref>.{{explain|date=July 2022}} In modern times, the singer [[Amir Khan (singer)|Amir Khan]] helped popularize it and researched its origins and the syllables used. [[Nissar Hussain Khan]] was a tarana singer.

==Form==
A second, contrasting melody, usually with higher notes, is introduced once before returning to the main melody.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} The tarana may include a [[ruba'i|Persian quatrain]], and may use syllables from [[sitar]] or [[tabla]] such as "dar-dar" or "dir-dir"; singers might recite full compositions (e.g. tihais, gats, tukdas){{explain|date=July 2022}} within the body of the tarana.

==History==
[[Thakur Jaidev Singh]], a commentator on Indian music, said:

{{quote|
[Tarana] was entirely an invention of Khusrau... True, Khusrau had before him the example of Nirgit songs using śuṣk-akṣaras (meaningless words) and pāṭ-akṣaras (mnemonic syllables of the mridang)... But generally speaking, the Nirgit used hard consonants. Khusrau... introduced mostly Persian words with soft consonants. Secondly, he so arranged these words that they bore some sense.<ref>{{Cite book | author=Singh, Thakur Jai Deva | chapter=Khusrau’s Musical Compositions | editor=Ansari, Zoe | title=Life, Times & Works of Amir Khusrau Dehlavi | year=1975 | publisher=National Amir Khusrau Society | location=New Delhi | pages=276}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Indian styles of music]]
[[Category:Hindustani music genres]]
[[Category:Hindustani music terminology]]