Ghazal
A poetic form with a rich musical tradition, built from a sequence of couplets.
Definition
The ghazal is first a poetic form — a sequence of couplets, each a self-contained thought, unified by metre and a recurring rhyme/refrain — that has a long musical setting tradition. In performance, sung ghazal is a semi-classical/light art in which the poetry's meaning leads, coloured by raga phrases and expressive delivery.
Structure & performance
Each couplet stands on its own; the singer dwells on and re-shapes lines to bring out their meaning, moving between light raga colour, sargam and gentle taans, usually over a light tala (Kaharwa, Dadra). It sits at the meeting point of poetry recitation and music.
Relationship to raga, tala, tempo
Raga colour is used loosely; tala is light; the couplet structure and the primacy of text are the form's defining features, not any tempo.