Chatarang

Chatarang is a type of composition in Hindustani classical music. Each composition of this variety is based on a ‘raga’. The word ‘chata’ means ‘four,’ while ‘rang’ means ‘color’.

As the word Chatarang suggests, each composition of this variety is made up of 4 elements. First component is the lyric. Second is the ‘swar’ (note), which can be either the ascent or descent of the particular ‘raga’ or simply the ‘pakad’ (characteristic pattern for a ‘raga’). The third element is the tarana, a set of meaningless words meant to fit into the tune. The last element is the tabla bol or pakhwaj bol, which are words meant to sound like the beats of a percussion instrument and are sung in similar rhythmic manner.

A Chatarang composition is set to any ‘tala’ (rhythm cycle) and is sung in either in madhya laya (medium tempo) or drut laya (fast tempo).