Music In North India

By George Ruckert. (Subtitle: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture). This case-study volume can be used along with the core Global Music Series books, Teaching Music Globally and Thinking Musically (set of two books, available separately). Each case study book uses the contemporary musical situation as a point of departure, covering historical information and traditions as they relate to the present. This book provides a representative overview of North Indian music, discussing rhythm and drumming traditions, song composition and performance styles, and melodic and rhythmic instruments. Many musical exercises demonstrate musical concepts. From the chants of the ancient Vedas to modern devotional singing, from the serious and meditative rendering of raga to the concert-hall excitement of the modern sitar, sarod, and tabla, the book shows how North India's wealth of musical traditions is composed of many different styles, genres, and practices. The 3 major topics discussed are the devotional component, the idea of fixity and spontaneity in the various styles of Indian music, and the importance of the verbal syllable to the expression of the musical aesthetic. The form, structure, and expression of North Indian music are examined while also illuminating the music's profound religious and cultural significance. The included 70-minute CD contains examples of the music discussed in the text.
 
112 pages.