Cheez (music)

Cheez means "composition" in Indian classical music, especially in vocal music of Hindustani music. Closely related to bandish or compositions for instrumental music. E.g. Bol Taans can be sung by utilizing the words of the Cheez.

The main components are meaningful words, which are set in a raga structure (scales) correlating with a tala (rhythm structure of Indian Classics).

Therefore, Cheez can be understood as a concept for realizing a musical idea, as a basis on which the artist (vocalist) explores further on the raga, which is mainly of improvisational character. Nowadays Cheez finds its synonym in the term Vasta, which refers on its own to the plot of dramaturgic venture.

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