The Ragas of Early Indian Music: Modes, Melodies, and Musical Notations from the Gupta Period to C. 1250

by Richard Widdess

The concept of raga forms the basis of melodic composition and improvization in Indian classical music. This study traces the early history and development of the concept in the pre-Islamic period. It draws on early Indian theoretical sources, and focuses especially on the examples of notated melodies that they contain.

Genres: Music

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 25, 1996