Tarana

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Tarana is a type of composition in Hindustani classical vocal music in which certain words and syllables (e.g. "odani", "todani", "tadeem" and "yalali") are used in a medium-paced (madhyalaya) or fast (drut laya) rendition. It was invented by Amir Khusro^[1] and now is common all over India and Pakistan.

The tarana is most commonly associated with Ustad Amir Khan, who did a lot of research on it and helped popularize it.

The words are from Persian and Arabic. Sometimes some of the syllables used are from tabla; many singers often recite full compositions (e.g. tihais, gats, tukdas) within the body of the tarana. Certain syllables might be used because they sound more pleasing than others. The syllables used are called "nom tom ke bol".

The structure consists of a main melody, usually short, repeated many times, with variation and elaboration at the performer's discretion. There is a second contrasing melody, usually with higher notes, which is introduced once, and goes back to the main melody.

Carnatic music has something vaguely similar that is called tillana or thillana and is widely used in dance performances.

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