A short melodic phrase, usually notated in sargam, that functions as the principal musical material in Hindustani classical music, especially in a khayal.
Bandish and Sthai
Although the term bandish is sometimes used interchangeably with sthai, strictly speaking, a sthai is the entire section before the antara in any composition. The sthai is composed of at least one bandish, often followed by a rhythmic embellishment called a taan, and then repeated one or more times. Sometimes, the sthai refers only to the phrase sung before the antara, and is then followed by a mukhda.
Definition of Sargam
Sargam is a mnemonic word commonly used in the Indian subcontinent to refer to the seven-note scale—Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa—similar to do re mi fa so la ti do in the Western solfège system.
Definition of Taan
In Indian music, a taan is a rapid melodic passage performed by a soloist (vocal or instrumental).
The term is derived from the Sanskrit verb tan-, which means "to stretch" or "to extend."
A taan is created by improvising around the notes of a rāga, or scale, using various ornaments, such as gamaka (grace notes) and murki (tremolos).
Taans are often used in Hindustani classical music to create excitement and build momentum in a performance.
Tal, the rhythmic cycle, provides the underlying structure for a taan, and the soloist must play or sing the taan within the confines of the tal