Listen: How sensitive tabla players determine how to enter the musical conversation with a soloist

The entry of the tabla in an instrumental recital begins when the soloist establishes the composition after a long or short aalaap in the raag chosen for delineation. The first few phrases of the composition usually suggest the taal that is desired by the soloist, although there are occasions when some unconventional compositions may inadvertently or consciously take the tabla player on a different path. More about the latter on another occasion. For now, we could perhaps focus our attention on the point of entry and what ensues thereafter.

But what occurs before the entry of the tabla is equally important to get a holistic perspective of a concert. While the tabla player does not have to play during the aalaap section, and this may be over a few minutes or even close to half an hour in case of an extended aalaap, concert decorum and musical etiquette would require the tabla player to be attentive and responsive to the free-flowing exploration of the melody during the aalaap section.

In other words, a sensitive tabla player will not tune off while the aalaap progresses but will in fact engage with it to understand and feel the spirit of the moment that the soloist...

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