Editing Alap (section)

== Classifications ==
Several [[musicologists]] have proposed much more complicated classifications and descriptions of alap. In the same way as traditional four-part compositions have a ''sthai'', ''antara'', ''sanchar'' and ''abhog'', some treat alap with a four-part scheme using the same names. [[Bengal]]i researcher Bimalakanto Raychoudhuri in his ''Bharatiya Sangeetkosh'' suggests classification both by length (''aochar'' being the shortest, followed by ''bandhan'', ''kayed'' and ''vistar'') and by performance style (according to the four ancient ''vanis'' or singing styles – ''Gohar'', ''Nauhar'', ''Dagar'' and ''Khandar''), and proceeds to list thirteen stages:

# ''[[Vilambit]]''
# ''[[Madhya laya]]''
# ''[[Drut]]''
# ''[[Jhala]]''
# ''[[Thok]]''
# ''[[Lari/Ladi]]''
# ''Larguthav''
# ''Larlapet''
# ''Paran''
# ''Sath''
# ''Dhuya''
# ''Matha''
# ''Paramatha''

Even though Raychoudhuri admits the 13th stage is wholly extinct, as we see we are in jhala already at the fourth stage; the sthai-to-abhog movement is all part of the first stage (vilambit). Stages six and up are for instrumentalists only. Other authorities have forwarded other classifications. For example, when alap is sung with lyrics or at least syllables, as in [[dhrupad]], it is called ''sakshar'' as opposed to ''anakshar''.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}