Music in India: The Classical Traditions (Prentice-Hall History of Music Series)

by Bonnie C. Wade

Will be * from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% * *.

Genres: Music

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reconnecting with my love of Indian classical music lately, and decided to do some reading on the subject to help me better understand how the music works. Wade's book is very much written for western audiences who are interested in Indian music. A reasonable amount of knowledge of western music theory is assumed. Wade does a good job of explaining raga and tala to the reader, and uses comparisons to western music that are helpful without implying any hierarchy between the two.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-known text that covers a broad range of musical concepts in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions of Indian music. All the basics are here, including info on major instruments, rhythmic modes, ragas. A very good intro to the concepts. It's a college-level or higher text, and you will probably get the most out of it if you already have a solid background in western music. I read it once and have returned several times to dip in and look up specific concepts, etc. Good as a reference book for your home music library.