Tags: Genre, Music Genre, Topical Concept.
Khyal (or Khayal Hindi: ख़्याल Urdu: خیال) is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning imagination. It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad is a more free and flexible form and it provides greater scope for improvisation. Like all Indian classical music khyal is modal with a single melodic line and no harmonic parts.