Music in India: The Classical Traditions

This book is written for the uninitiated Westerner. It is an introduction to the principles, ideas, and systems of two traditions of Indian classical music. It is geared to the listener as well as to the performer. Chapter 1 concerns the listener and the effect of music. Performance situations are described to show how theory is put into practice. Chapters 2 and 3 contrast concepts in Indian and Western classical music as well as classification of melody type, ideas about notating and notation systems used in Indian traditions are also explained. Chapter 4 describes the primary melody-producing instruments. Chapter 5 contrasts Hindustani and Western concepts of rhythm and meter. Additional chapters are concerned with those performance genres which can be heard on available recordings. The final chapter combines all of the various elements by commenting on the requirements of a good musician. In this new edition, the author has revised the source materials, pertinent information, and dates so that the reader is directed to more current readings and audio-visual materials and where to find them. Thus, in the Appendix the bibliography has been revised; the discography and filmography have been updated.