Transcription of a Thavil mora by T.R. Subramaniam

Mora is a kind of a cadenza played in Carnatic music. It is often played at the end of the percussion solo, after the call & response part, in unison. Here is a transcription of a mora by the great Thavil master T.R. Subramaniam. Although this may not be a good example for a mora, I am putting this as a material to work on while my teacher is away.

This mora is in Adi Talam (Adhi Thaalam), having 8 beats in one cycle.

One section between the bars corresponds to one clap, "-" represents a rest and "." a half-size rest.

1
Ta - - Tun TR KT KR TK TR KT TK (11 beats = 3+8)
Ta Tun KR TK TK TR KT (7 beats = 2+5)
Ta KR TK TK TR KT (6 beats = 1+5)
KuRa .Ta Kun Ta Kun Ta Ton -
The mora begins with a irregular rhythmic structure considering the following part, since the number of beats in each phrases does not decrease in equal difference.

2
Ta - - Tun KR TK TK TR KT (9 beats = 3+6)
Ta - Tun KR TK TK TR KT (8 beats = 2+6)
Ta Tun KR TKTK TRKT (7 beats = 1+6)
KuRa .Ta Kun Ta Kun Ta Ton -
The 2nd cycle appears to be a typical mora phrase, number of beats decreasing in equal difference. While the key phrase "Tun KRTK TK TRKT" remains the same, the gap (rest) after the "Ta" is decreasing.

3 & 4
Ta - - Kun KR TK TK TR KT
Ta - Tun KR TK TK TR KT
Ta Tun KR TK TK TR KT
KuRa .Ta Kun -

Ta - Tun KR TK TK TR KT
KuRa.Ta Kun -

Ta - Tun KR TK TK TR KT
KuRa .Ta Kun Ta Ton -
KuRa .Ta Kun Ta Ton -
KuRa.Ta Kun Ta
The last part of the high speed section can be broken down into above, each section concluding with "KuRa.TaKun" or "KuRa.Ta KunTa Ton".

My teacher called the following section as "Korvai". I did not have the chance to clarify the definition of the word, whether it is a part of the mora or not, however I am writing it down.

5 & 6
Ta Ka Tu Ta Ton - - - - (9 beats = 5+4) *Note that 4 is the number of gaps.
Ta Ka Tu Ta - Ton - - - - (10 beats = 6+4)
Ta Ka Don - Ta - Ton - - - - (11 beats = 7+4)

Ta Di Ki Ta Ton - - (7 beats = 5+2)
Ta Di Ki Ta Ton Ta Di Ki Ta Ton - - (12 beats = 5+5+2)
Ta Di Ki Ta Ton Ta Di Ki Ta Ton Ta Di Ki Ta Ton (15 beats = 5+5+5)

7 & 8
Ta Ka Tun Ta Ton - - (7 beats = 5+2)
Ta Ka Tun Ta - Ton - - (8 beats = 6+2)
Ta Ka Ton - Ta - Ton - - (9 beats = 7+2)

Ta Din - Ki Ta Ton - - (8 beats = 6+2)
Ta Din - Ki Ta To Ta Din - Ki Ta Ton - - (14 beats = 6+6+2)
Ta Din - Ki Ta Ton Ta Din - Ki Ta Ton Ta Din - Ki Ta Ton (18 beats = 6+6+6)

9 & 10
Ta Ka Tu Ta Ton (5 beats)
Ta Ka Tu Ta - Ton (6 beats)
Ta Ka Don - Ta - Ton (7 beats)

Ta Ka Ta Di Ki Ta Kun - - (9 beats = 7+2)
Ta Ku Ta Di Ki Ta Ku Ta Ku Ta Di Ki Ta Kun - - ( 16 beats = 7+7+2)
Ta Ku Ta Di Ki Ta Ku Ta Ku Ta Di Ki Ta Ku Ta Ku Ta Di Ki Ta Ku (21 beats = 7+7+7)
Section 5 & 6, 7 & 8, 9 & 10 each has the similar structure. First halves are consisted of "TaKaTuTaTon" and gaps, and the second being consisted of repetition of "TaDiKiTaTon" and gaps. The number of gaps after "TaKaTuTaTon" decreases while the size of "TaDiKiTaTon" increase. "TaDiKiTaTon" "TaDin-KiTaTon" "TaKuTaDiKiTaTon" belongs to the same family having different numbers.

The last part is in Tisram (triplets). I am going to ask my teacher about this section.