To conclude the three-part series on the tappa form, let us turn to some presentations that are outside the Gwalior and Banaras gharanas.

Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan
Kafi Tappa



We begin with a tappa in raag Kafi sung by Mushtaq Hussein Khan (1880-1974), one of the most eminent vocalists from the Sahaswan-Rampur tradition. The composition is sung in a 16-count cycle, and although the tabla is not very audible, it appears to be a kind of Ekvai taal.

While traditional tappa compositions are primarily in dialects of Punjabi, there are several Bengali tappas composed by Ramnidhi Gupta (1741-1839).

Here are three presentations of Bengali tappa.

Lal Chand Boral
Anugata jone kano (Nidhubabu'r Tappa)



The first one is by Lalchand Boral recorded in the early twentieth century. Lalchand Boral was the father of Raichand Boral, a pioneer in film music.

Ramkumar Chatterjee
Puratoni Bangla Gaan/Baithaki Gaan (Bengali Tappa)



The next one is a recital by Ramkumar Chatterjee, who was regarded as an authority on old Bengali songs. This link has a series of compositions sung by him.

Manna Dey
Tomari Tulana Tumi Pran



The third track in raag Khamaj is sung by the famous playback singer Manna Dey. It is set to Jat taal.

Few instrumentalists have sought to reproduce the tappa form in their solo recitals. Though the song-text integral to the tappa form is missing in instrumental presentations, performers try to retain the melodic form with its unpredictable leaps and twists. The final track in this series features sitar virtuoso Buddhaditya Mukherjee playing a tappa in raag Khamaj set to the 16 matra Sitarkhani taal. He is accompanied by Shafaat Ahmed, a prominent tabla player who met an untimely death in recent years.

Pt Budhaditya Mukerjee



The first and second part of the series on tappa can be read here.