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The AI-Tala system has two important facets. The system can simulate the existing Talas of North Indian music and Carnatic music. The other facet of the system is to generate new Talas. Description of both the aspects of the AI-Tala system are provided below.
Tala Simulation:
The AI-Tala System simulates the Talas as well as it can generates new Talas. Let us discuss the simulation of Talas first. Very important objective of ‘AI-Tala System’ is to show that AI can be used as a tool to simulate Talas of Indian Music. It demonstrates the creative and aesthetic capabilities of AI. The system generates Talas and produces a ‘Solo Performance’ of about 10 to 15 minutes on the Artificial Tabla. This system has all the core concepts and principles of Indian rhythmic cycles called Talas. This system is not restricted to Natyashastra alone. On the other hand, it is more relevant for contemporary Talas. However, the basic concepts and principles of Tala are used from the Natyashastra and Sangeet Ratnakara. ‘AI- Tala’ System has the knowledge of Druta Laya, Madhya Laya, and Vilambita Laya. It also deals with Tryashra Jatis, Chaturashra Jatis, Khanda Jatis, Mishra Jatis, Samkirna Jatisetc. The AI-Tala system also possesses the knowledge of Sapta Talas of Carnatic music such as Dhruva Talas, Matya Talas, Roopaka Talas, Jhampa Talas, Triputa Talas, Atha Talas, Eka Talas and the system can generate all these Talas and render them in the form of Tabla solo composition of about 10 to 15 minutes. The audience can listen to this.The popular Carnatic Talas called Chapu Talas like Tryashradi Chapu and Anuloma-Viloma Krama Chapu are generated by the AI-Tala system and rendered as a performance. Popular Talas from North Indian system of music such as Tritala, Ekatala, Kerava and many more are generated by the AI-Tala system and played on the Tabla for 10 to 15 minutes as a solo performance. The following image shows the interface of the AI-Tala system. The dialog box for Sapta Talas is seen. The user can select the name of the Tala, Jati of the Tala and the ‘Tempo’ or Laya of the Tala. Once the user selects the option and clicks on it the AI-Tala system generates the appropriate Tala.
The following image of the AI- Tala screen shows that the user has selected the Matya Tala for Chaturashra Jati the selected Laya is Druta. Screen shows all the technical information about the simulated Tala as follows.
We will now go through various sections of the output.
The AI-Tala system works as a repository of traditional knowledge. It demonstrates and shows how traditional knowledge can be preserved, smartly processed and applied and how it is made relevant for contemporary musical prentices. This is the strength of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence.
Tala Generation:
Another important objective of ‘AI-Tala System’ is to show that AI can be used as a tool to generate existing Talas of Indian Music as well as generate new Talas for Indian music. The system is capable of generating more than 500 valid Talas for Indian music. Following image shows that under the heading ‘Samganaka Talas’ there is a sub-menu for generating Talas called ‘Generate Samganaka Talas’. Once you click on this menu you get the list of all the Nava Gana Talas. Then you choose the Gana for generating a Tala. As you click on the desired Gana, the system starts the process of generating all the valid Talas for the selected Gana. All the specifications of all the generated Talas are displayed on the screen. At the same time a database file is also created on the computer giving all the details of all the generated Talas. The details include the computer-generated code name for Tala, Matra Samkhya, Gana Nama, Prastara type, Tala Vajan and Vajan Bols for the Tala that can be seen in the third image. Apart from these details, the other details are also generated such as Anga Samkhya, catch theme for Bols of the Tala, Vibhaga Samkhya, core Tala structure, Upanga types if any, and finally Shesh that is any extra Matras. This information covers all the aspects of a generated Tala. With this information even a performer can play a Tala on Tabla or Mridangam. The generated Talas can also be played by the system. Currently the system plays a Tala on the artificial Tabla instrument embedded in the system.
This generates the following output, the output generated contains all the Talas of the selected Gana.
