The Art and Science of Carnatic Music

by Vidya Shankar

English
228 (2 B/W Illustrations)


About the book

This book explains the art of music from the aesthetic point of view, and at the same takes the reader, step by step, to an understanding of music as a science. It is a critical interpretations as well as an appreciation of the Carnatic traditions in Music.

The book comprises a series of lectures which the author delivered to a group of scientists and music lovers at the Kalpakkam Atomic Energy Centre and in other institutions. She has succeeded in guiding the reader on the correct lines of appreciation of good music and its scientific basis.

A lucid exposition of the musical scale, the classification of raga-s and tala-s, the concept of sruti-s, the fretting of the Vina and the teaching of music are the highlights of this self-sufficient treatise. These will benefit the lay reader, the student of music and the erudite musicologist alike. Noteworthy, as showing the practical slant of the book, are the masterly illustrations from the songs of the great composers to elucidate her exposition of the delicacies of sruti-s and the patterns of the several ragas.

The charts in this book add a new dimension to Indian Musicology.

 

About the Author

Vidya Shankar, B.A., B.T., had her training in vina and vocal music under eminent Vidvans- Sangitakalanidhi Sabhesa lyer, Madras Sabhapathi lyer, Syama Sastry (great-grandson of the composer Syama Sastry) and Sangitakalanidhi T.L. Venkatarama lyer. She has taught music, mathematics and Sanskrit in Kalakshetra and was a lecture in Musicology in the Central Collage of Carnatic Music, Madras. She was awarded the vina Shanmukha- Vadivu Prize by the Madras Music Academy in 1973. She is a member of the Advisory Experts’ Committee of t

Paperback

Published April 1, 1999

About the author

Vidya Shankar is a widely published Indian poet, writer, editor, yoga practitioner, mindful mandala artist, a “book” with the Human Library, and English teacher. She is the author of two poetry books 'The Flautist of Brindaranyam', in collaboration with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan, and 'The Rise of Yogamaya'. A recipient of literary awards and recognitions, Vidya is the chief admin of the Facebook group Kavya-Adisakrit and one of the editors of Kavya-Adisakrit, an imprint of Adisakrit Publishing House. She is also a member of the poetry group India Poetry Circle, or IPC.