The Art of Tabla Rhythm: Essentials, Tradition and Creativity (Book & CD) (New Vistas in Indian Performing Arts) (New Vistas in Indian Performing Arts)

THIS book climaxes a lifelong interest. Rhythm has fascinated me from my very childhood; and so this academic fruition of my commitment to the art, at the age of eighty-three years, is very satisfying. As I grew up, I had the privilege of nurturing the interest in every possible way, namely, the following: first, years of systematic and dedicated learning under the doyen of the Ajradia gharana of tabla playing, the late Ustad Habeebuddin Khan, at Meerut (in U.P.); second, serving the A.I.R. (Delhi, Calcutta) as a staff artist (1945-48); thirdly, participation in most of the important music conferences of the country, mainly as accompanist, to almost every leading exponent of music (both vocal and instrumental) and Kathak dance of my day (1945-1995) including such legendary maestros as Ustads Faiyaz Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Amir Khan (vocal); Ustads Vilayat Khan and Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, and Pandit Nikhil Banerji (sitar); and Sarvashree Acchan Maharaj, Damayanti Joshi, and Roshan Kumari (Kathak dance). (from the Preface) "This authoritative work deals comprehensively with Tabla rhythm, focusing on the performed art with an eye to its history and aesthetics. It is aimed at the Tabla student, the Tabla performer, as well as the inquiring listener of Hindustani music, for whom it encapsulates a Tabla practitioner's knowledge in these matters acquired over a lifetime of learning and teaching. Beginning with the evolution of the Tabla, the book explains the technique of producing the basic bols. It further describes the way to do reyaz on the Tabla, to maintain the instrument through changing seasons, and to raise and moderate its pitch, besides other practical directions. The author explains the principal compositions that make up a standard Tabla recital, and how they may be played in solo and sangat contexts. The major gharanas of Tabla are discussed critically, and their notated compositions are provided in both Roman and Devanagari scripts. The CD accompanying the book carries samples of the tabla of these gharanas recorded under the author's direction, as well as demonstrations of compositions used as illustrations in the book. Grounded in traditional learning in Tabla rhythm, the book is written with a rational, empirical mind, and in a lucid manner all along which makes it accessible to a wide range of musicians and listeners." -- Publisher Plan of Transliteration vii Preface xi Acknowledgement xv 1. Introduction 1 2. Alphabets of Rhythm and Ways to Play Them 13 3. Reyaz or The Discipline of Practice 37 4. Vocabulary of Tabla Rhythm 45 5. Two Idioms of Tabla Rhythm: Solo and Accompaniment 61 6. Gharanas of Tabla 75 7. Principles of Composition 129 8. Creativity at Work: Author's Own Compositions 139 9. Epilogue 169 Glossarial Index 181 Beginning With The Evolution Of The Tabla, The Book Deals Comprehensively With Tabla Rhythm And Explains The Technique Of Producing The Basic Bols. It Further Describes The Way To Do Reyaz On The Tabla, And Explains The Principal Compositions That Make Up A Standard Tabla Recital. The Cd Accompanying The Book Carries Samples Of The Tabla Of The Major Gharanas. Sudhir Kumar Saxena. Accompanying Compact Disc Contains Recordings Of Tablā Rhythm Relevant To The Work. Includes Index. In English, With Some Hindi (hindi In Roman Also). Major study spon. by Sangeet Natak Akademi, latest and an authoritative guide to tabla, Indian rhythm.