Music in India; The Classical Traditions

Rating:
Summary: Great resource and reference
Review: This book is an introduction to both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with a comparative approach that is quite explanatory for Western readers. Wade's explicit goal is to make the fundamental concepts of Indian music clear to a Western audience without confusing them with the terminology and classification that is standard in most similar books written by Indian authors. The book's topics include the following: the listener and relationship to the performer (with a brief overview of Indian geography and culture), notation systems and ragas (with side-by-side comparisons of Western, Hindustani, and Carnatic notation), melody instruments, meter, rhythm instruments and drumming (with very technical descriptions including the drumming syllables of both Indian traditions), performance genres of Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, and musicians and performing contexts. The book also includes an annotated bibliography, a discography and filmography, a glossary, and an index. The book is written for newcomers to Indian classical music, who may have some familiarity with the music itself, but who don't necessarily know the standard terminology. The material is well sequenced to use for an introductory study of Indian classical music. In taking a comparative approach, the book is unique and quite useful- -it's very hard to find such books written by people who are conversant in both Indian classical traditions.

Rating:
Summary: Great resource and reference
Review: This book is an introduction to both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with a comparative approach that is quite explanatory for Western readers. Wade's explicit goal is to make the fundamental concepts of Indian music clear to a Western audience without confusing them with the terminology and classification that is standard in most similar books written by Indian authors. The book's topics include the following: the listener and relationship to the performer (with a brief overview of Indian geography and culture), notation systems and ragas (with side-by-side comparisons of Western, Hindustani, and Carnatic notation), melody instruments, meter, rhythm instruments and drumming (with very technical descriptions including the drumming syllables of both Indian traditions), performance genres of Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, and musicians and performing contexts. The book also includes an annotated bibliography, a discography and filmography, a glossary, and an index. The book is written for newcomers to Indian classical music, who may have some familiarity with the music itself, but who don't necessarily know the standard terminology. The material is well sequenced to use for an introductory study of Indian classical music. In taking a comparative approach, the book is unique and quite useful- -it's very hard to find such books written by people who are conversant in both Indian classical traditions.