Facets of Indian Music

Contents: 1. Sufism and Sufi Female Poets and Singers. 2. Remarkable Concerts. 3. India’s Great Musicologists. 4. Patrons of Music. 5. Baiji Culture of Calcutta. 6. Scope of Japanese Koto in Indian Music. 7. Turning Points in Music Career. 8. Great Albums of Hindustani Music. 9. Rags and Film Music. 10. Time Theory of Rags Revisited. 11. Anecdotes of Accompanists. 12. Secrets of Tal and Accompaniment. 13. Shrupad versus Khayal – I. 14. Shrupad versus Khayal – II. 15. Theme of Lyrics in Hindustani Music. 16. Musical Duets: The Jugal Bandi-I. 17. The Jugal Bandi-II. 18. In the Defence of Classical Music. 19. The Melodies of Monsoon-I. 20. The Melodies of Monsoon-II. 21. Institutes and Music Training. Index.

Indian music is basically made of melody, poetry and rhythm in which Ras (essence) and bhav (sentiment) play very important roles. The creators and the consumers of music are equally important like the music itself. Therefore, this small book talks about many interesting facets of Indian music, namely: Sufi music, great classical albums, great musicologists, patrons of music, themes of lyrics, secret of rhythmic accompaniment, time theory of rags, female musicians and courtesans, anecdotes of remarkable concerts-accompanists-turning point in music career, Indian film music, quality music, fine training, duet music, monsoon melodies, Japanese Koto, etc.

It is a general impression that Indian music is losing its appeal and business, but it is not so, says two stalwarts of North Indian music in an interview given in the book, likewise, there is a chapter on an informative dialogue between two protagonists dhrupad and khayal, the prominent forms of art music, in which each one tries to outdo the other. (Jacket)