Hindustani Music : A Tradition in Transition
Contents: Foreword. Preface. Prologue. Introduction. I. Culture, technology and economics: 1. Populism and rival forces. 2. If peanuts is what you pay. 3. Government, business and classical music. 4. Pandits and Ustads aplenty. 5. Archival music and the cultural process. 6. A requiem for the Gharanas. II. Form, idiom and format: 1. Architecture in modern Hindustani music. 2. Instrumental idioms anga or apanga. 3. The Jugalbandi racket. 4. Tihayis and the rape of melody. III. The world of ragas: 1. The raga-ness of ragas. 2. Raga chemistry and beyond. 3. Raga: right and wrong. 4. Kedara at sunrise. 5. The experience of melody: from Dhrupad to Santura. IV. The major genres: 1. An introduction to Dhrupad. 2. An introduction to Khayala. 3. An introduction to Thumari. 4. Introduction to the Tappa. V. The major instruments: 1. The rudra vina. 2. The sitara. 3. The surabahara. 4. The saroda. 5. The santura. 6. The sehnayi. 7. The sarangi. 8. The Indian classical guitar. Glossary. Suggested bibliography. Index.
"Hindustani Music: A Tradition in Transition is a wide ranging survey of the North Indian tradition of classical music during the post independence period. Explicitly, this book addresses music lovers of above average familiarity with Hindustani music, and their curiosity about its inner workings. It is, however, also a valuable reference for scholars and other writers on music.
The book is based on the author's long years of training as a musician, vast experience as an analyst of music, and an observer of the cultural environment.
The book is divided into six parts. Part I articulates an Indian perspective on important societal, cultural, economic and technological drivers of Hindustani music. Part II discusses issues pertaining to presentation formats, and the structural and melodic aspects of Hindustani music. Part III deals with the notion of raga-ness, and the world of ragas. Part IV presents comprehensive backgrounders on the four major genres of vocal music -- Dhrupad. Khayal, Thumree, and Tappa. Part V features detailed fact-sheets on eight major melodic instruments of the Hindustani tradition -- Rudra Veena, Sitar, Surbahar, Sarod, Sarangi, Shehnai, Santoor, and the Indian classical (Hawaiian) guitar. Part VI presents a glossary of words in italics, a list of suggested readings, and an index.
The book makes complex musicological concepts accessible to non-academic readers, and contributes significantly to widening the understanding of contemporary trends in Hindustani music. Written by an author of impeccable credentials as a musician, researcher, and author, this book is a very significant addition to the body of authoritative writing on 20 century Hindustani music." (jacket)
