If you find yourself in an unfamiliar country, listen for the lehara, the repeating melodic framework.

Set #1 - 8:00am - 9:30am

*1. Teental (Slow & Medium) & Laggi
44:35
(Laggi is a lighter, freeform composition for tabla.)

†2. Vilambit Teental
23:32
(Vilambit = slow.)

†3. Drut Teental
18:10
(Drut = fast. Teental = time cycle of 16 beats, divided 4 + 4 + 4 + 4.)

Set #2 - 9:30am - 11:00am

§4. Rupak
21:18

*5. Rupak Tal
14:08
(Rupak = cycle of 7 beats, divided 3 + 2 + 2.)

*6. Ektal
10:42

§7. Ektal
7:27

†8. Ektal
6:08
(12 beats, divded 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 .)

†9. Ashtagrahan
5:50
(8 ½ = 2 + 3 + 2 + 1 ½ gives this tal a jaunty vibe.)

†10. Keharwa Laggi
4:53
(8, 4 + 4.)

*Tracks 1, 5 & 6 (rec. 1988)
Ilmas Hussain Khan - tabla, unknown - harmonium lehara [repeating melodic framework]
Ancestors: Art of the Lucknow Gharana: Tabla Solo By Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan
Rageshree Music Institute, CD RMI 102
(This harmonium player just can't help ornamenting the lehara.)

†Tracks 2, 3, 8, 9 & 10
Mayookh Bhaumik - tabla, Roshan Ali - sarangi lehara, Sunondo Mukherjee - sarod lehara, Somnath Roy - swarmandal [zither]
Ancestors #2: Art of the Farukhabad Gharana: Tabla Solo By Mayookh Bhaumik
Rageshree Music Institute, CD RMI 111
(This album's got the most interestingly orchestrated lehara that I've ever heard, alternating between sarangi and sarod with a sprinkling of swarmandal pixie dust.)

§Tracks 4 & 7
Sharda Sahai - tabla, Ramesh Mishra - sarangi lehara
Pandit Sharda Sahai: The Spirit of Benares
Audiorec Classics, 766032 1044-2