India, Feb. 21 -- Dhrupad, a pristine form of Hindustani classical music that derives from the ancient Chhand-Prabandh Gayan offered compositional structure to the abstract raga. Swami Haridas and Tansen, the court musician of Emperor Akbar, and Raja Mansingh Tomar of Gwalior popularised it in the 15th and 16th centuries. This exalted position was retained till about the mid-19th century before Khayal singing took precedence with the patronage of Sultan Hussain Sharkie of Jaunpur and other royals, who preferred pleasing embellishments.

Primarily spiritual, Dhruva-Pada or Dhrupad is a combination of swar, taal, and pada. The swar-vistar (melodic elaboration) is done during the detailed alap and the laya-vistar (rhythmic elaborations) is d...