Alapa

/ˈɑ.lɑ.pə/ noun

Definition

An alternative or variant spelling of alap, the introductory section of a raga in Indian classical music.

Etymology

A variant form of alap, showing how Sanskrit terms sometimes have multiple accepted transliterations into English from different regional or scholarly traditions.

Kelly Says

The spelling 'alapa' appears in older European texts about Indian music, showing how the Silk Road trade brought musical knowledge to the West even before phonetic spelling standards were established.

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