Khyal: Creativity within North India's Classical Music Tradition

by Bonnie C. Wade

This book is a study of khyal, the genre of North Indian classical music which has dominated in performances by highly trained vocalists for at least the past 150 years. It is also a study of cultural history. Spanning as it does a good portion of the periods of the British Raj in India, the struggle for independence, and the flourishing of India as a republic, the history of khyal and of khyal singers is a story of generous patronage by native princes, of the loss of this patronage when courts were dissolved, and of the resilience of musicians in adjusting to the vicissitudes of contemporary artistic life. The book contains an extensive bibliography and discography, as well as illustrations of khyal in performance, genealogical charts and maps. The accompanying cassette illustrates much of the music described in the book.

Genres: Music

334 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 1985

Reviews

[Aarshin Karande · Rating 4 out of 5]

While replete with priceless details about the history, lineages, and sociology of Hindustani Classical music, Wade’s book is limited in its restraint on music theory. Issues surrounding musicality, pedagogy, and methodology - central to her concern for the styles emerging in khayal - are foregone due to this limitation with music theory and practice (and their tensions). Despite, Wade’s book is certainly a worthwhile read for anyone interested in South Asian music history. Recommended.