Khayal

The dhrupad style of music was replaced by the romantic khayal. Khayal is a Persian term which means imagination. The most important feature of a khayal is tāns or the running glides over notes and boltans which clearly distinguish it from dhrupad. The slow (vilambit) and fast (drut) styles of khayal are the two recognised types today. The singer is accompanied generally on Tabla and Harmonium or Sarangi.