A Modern Introduction to Indian Music and other Essays – Anjum Altaf

Description

A Modern Introduction to Indian Music and Other Essays is a collective endeavour to understand the scientific foundation of Indian music using an unusual dialogic format for mutual learning. The premise is that the appreciation of music, much like that of a game, can be enhanced by knowing its rules and underlying fundamentals. The traditional style of music education fails to address this aspect, relying instead on faithfully following a master. In this book, a group of untrained beginners venture into this uncharted territory to find out for themselves. By talking to and questioning each other, guided by two eminent gurus, they uncover a fascinating domain of knowledge and understand why its awareness matters. In the process, they are surprised by how much they learn about music, themselves, and the world they live in. The second half of the book comprises conversations that use music as a point of entry to explore issues of culture, faith, identity, and social order. The book also includes a guide to further study and help readers extend their aesthetic and intellectual appreciation of music and its relevance to our lives.