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Khayal

Khayal music (meaning 'imagination', or 'thought' in Urdu) is modal witih a singing melodinc line and no harmonic parts. The creation of this tradition is associated strongly with the Sufi poet, Amir Khusrau. Traditionally, women sat in small chambers and sang khayal, but during the 18th century, men began to take up khayal singing, causing a break in gender norms and heralded a mass acceptance of khayal music in Northern India. It is now the cornerstone of Indian classical vocal music, especially within Hindustani (North Indian) styles of singing.

Khayal performances are usually separated into two parts: the slow /'vilambit' 'bada khayal' (meaning the 'great'/'big' khayal), and the fast/'drut' 'chota khayal' ('small' khayal). Khayal music is distinguishable as being lighter in sentiment than other forms of vocal music; for example, vocal music such as dhrupad is characteristically solemn and serious, delving into concepts such as devotion and different deities. Khayal music, on the other hand, explores themes such as romance, mythological stories (particularly those of Lord Krishna teasing the milkmaids), and the changing seasons.

As with many Indian classical concerts, the compositions dealing with these themes are fixed, but much of the performance revolves around the artist's improvisation around the raag they are singing, which also lends itself to the name of the style as being 'imaginative'.

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