Classical Indian music

THEORY OF INDIAN MUSIC: Ram Avtar Vir; Pankaj Publications, M- 114, Vikaspuri, New Delhi-110018. Rs. 225.

ANY BOOK dealing with the development of Indian classical music goes through the contribution of musical treaties and their Vedic origin.

In this the names of Natya Sastra of Bharata, Sangita Ratnakara of Sarngadeva and the evolution of the Raga-Ragini system find a prominent place.

This book too is no exception to this. Mainly confined to the North Indian musical system, the focus is on the basics of the Hindustani mode, the founding of the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya by Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, the several Gharanas and the theory part taught through the Bhatkande system, main characteristics of ragas, male or female, season, and the rasas they stress and the evolution of thals. The historical events are also referred to in outlining the progress of music.

Though the two systems of Hindustani and Carnatic music follow the same swaras and srutis, the differences between them are studied in detail.

Being a book on theory, the volume places emphasis on the 22 srutis, evolution of notes, tala system, types of songs like Dhrupad, Khayal and Thumri in the Hindustani style and musical instruments and the notation system.

SVK

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