8 Must-Read Books On Classical Music: A guide to Hindustani Sangeet

Classical music is the best form of music in the world. It is one of the most treasured art forms that has been created by the musical maestros of our nation. Classical music contains many aspects; it talks about vocal music, instrumental music, bhajans, thumris, and so many other things. The best part is that our ancestors were the ones who themselves wrote all this and created all this through their hard work. Many books on classical music talk about different ragas. Ragas are the combination of indian notes, which make a raga. These ragas are supposed to be sung at different times of the day, but how are we supposed to know that? Through the books. Different instruments in our classical music have different parts which have a different work altogether, and we get this knowledge through books. Hence, to understand more and more about indian classical music, we must read more and more books about it. If you are someone who plays any instruments, sings, or is just interested in gaining knowledge about music, here are some books that could help.

How Do Classical Music Books Enhance Our Musical Knowledge?

• Music is something that most people can appreciate in one way or another, whether it's for listening to, playing, or even just appreciating the talent behind it. 
• Learning music is the best way to become more involved in the world of art. With it, you can get a better understanding of how instruments work, both for their own sake and for the sake of other types of artistic expression.
• Studies have shown that listening to music can improve our moods and mental health. It can provide us with a sense of joy, reduce stress and anxiety, and help us cope with difficult life circumstances. Listening to happy music can even increase our levels of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemical.
• Additionally, playing music is an effective treatment for depression. If you're feeling down, learning music may be able to help you lift your spirits.
• And if you do want to pursue a music career, there are plenty of options available. You could be a performer, a composer, a music therapist, a music educator, or even work in the business side of the music industry.

Finding the Raga: An Improvisation on Indian Music

Tracing the music's development, Finding the Raga dwells on its most distinctive and mysterious characteristics: its extraordinary approach to time, language, and silence; its embrace of confoundment, and its ethos of evocation over representation. The result is a strange gift of a book, for musicians and music lovers, and for any creative mind in search of diverse and transforming inspiration. Supple, intricate and uncompromising, full of delicate observation and insight, Amit Chaudhuri's FINDING THE RAGA immerses us in the rigorous beauty and cosmology of Indian classical music. It is also a loving memoir about relationships and places, dedication and vocation. The book is beautifully structured, blending aspects of music with stories from the author's life linked to it. A book that flows like a well-delineated raaga.

NAD - Understanding Raga Music Book

"NAD Understanding Raga Music" is perhaps the first comprehensive guide to understanding all the aspects and finer nuances of Hindustani classical music. It is aimed at the serious listener, that is, someone who may not have had any formal lessons himself in this performing art, but who, nevertheless, has picked up an initial interest in listening to classical music, and is, therefore, seeking to know more about its underlying structure, system, and traditions. By explaining in a straightforward and extremely readable style, the basic features of Indian music, how time and melody are structured, the main principles of rāga delineation and development, and the various genres and styles of vocal as well as instrumental performances, the book aims to enhance the serious listener's understanding of Hindustani music, and heighten his appreciation of this art form.

Lost world of Hindustani music

The book is very informative, erudite, and yet makes for very interesting reading. Mr Mukherjee's keen sense of observation and eye for musical details, as well as his obvious admiration and love for this great tradition and the masters who kept it alive shines through clearly. The anecdotes associated with various masters, their idiosyncrasies, their views on music, and their human frailties make for a book that is difficult to put down. Mr Mukherjee's undoubted flair of language and his sense of humourenrich the prose tremendously. Full of the most delightful little anecdotes about the captivating and mysterious world of Hindustani Music of a century ago, and the remarkable men and women who reigned over it. It is not slickly written - indeed, it seems to have been left unedited on purpose - and is incredibly charming for that. It's like listening to a rambling, opinionated, likeable, erudite uncle. Finished it at practically one sitting. Highly recommended if you love Hindustani music

The Dictionary of Hindustani Classical Music

Pandit Amarnath was regarded as a musician's musician and the foremost interpreter of the Indore Gharana. In this book, he demystifies the many terms associated with Hindustani classical music for the common man interested in this art form. From crucial terms such as avaart and kharaj bharna to musicological terminology like moorchhana and shrutee to short profiles of stalwarts in the field and telling musical 'proverbs' and sayings of the great masters, this is a pathfinder to the otherwise closed traditions of Hindustani classical music whose secrets and philosophies have been restricted to masters and connoisseurs. Pandit Amarnath reveals the terms in both their etymology and their implications in musical practice and listening.

Nuances Of Hindustani Classical Music

This is the best primer on Indian classical music. Systematically compiled, simply communicated, and easy to understand. So the book is right for the beginners as well as more advanced listeners who will appreciate the nuances of classical music. The author is well-endowed in science and arts with master's degrees and a doctorate in communications. This depth of learning is reflected in writing. For the high quality of the book, it is surprisingly inexpensive. This book covers all important aspects of Hindustani classical music. It gives a very good overview of this art form. This is a book that explains all the aspects of classical Indian music. It's a book of knowledge. It's not a book for playing or learning how to play Indian classical music. It's a book on understanding it. 

Classical Music of India: A Practical Guide

Indian classical music is the oldest, most sophisticated, and scientifically complete musical system in the world. Its two major streams—the south Indian (Carnatic) and the north Indian (Hindustani)—share common origins and were part of a single tradition until the thirteenth century. L. Subramaniam, one of the best-known classical musicians of our age, and the late and highly celebrated vocalist Viji Subramaniam examine the origins, history, structure, and spirit of this system in this book. Classical Music of India discusses in depth the melodic and rhythmic aspects of both Carnatic and Hindustani, briefly comparing these concepts with the classical music of Europe. There is a lucid comparison of the two Indian forms, an examination of instruments integral to them, and a re-examination of fundamental concepts. An expanded, revised, and updated reissue of the classic Euphony, this work is a definitive appraisal of Indian classical music. It is an essential addition to the library of any serious music lover, whether steeped in the music of India or new to it.

The Dictionary of Hindustani Classical Music

In this book, the author has dealt with the musical terms as found in the old sastras, which are also in common use. He has explained these terms in simple language with reference to their history of origin. Descriptions of seventy-eight different musical instruments and forty-seven different Talas are also there. The entry on the ragas arranged according to the schedule is very useful. Contains a lot of information not available elsewhere. Beautifully printed & hardbound, it is an essential for all music lovers. Bimalakanta Roychaudhuri was born in 1909 in an illustrious family of musical heritage. He had his training in music from Sitalchandra Mukhopadhyay, Sitalkrishna Ghosh, Amir Khan (Sarod), and then from Inayet Khan, the foremost Sitar player of those days. He also had his musical training from his maternal uncle, Birendrakishore Roychaudhuri, and maternal grandfather Brojendrakishore Roychaudhuri. 

Chasing the Raag Dream: A Look into the World of Hindustani Classical Music 

One of the two branches of Indian classical music, the Hindustani (North Indian) music tradition has evolved over thousands of years into the complex ecosystem it is today. From its movement across geographical and class boundaries, its purpose in national identity, its facilitation by governing bodies and representation in broadcast and visual media, to its corporate involvement and presence in educational institutions, Chasing the Raag Dream analyses Hindustani music from multiple perspectives to trace its modern-day evolution and find possible pathways to ensure a healthier future for it. Aneesh Pradhan is a performer, composer, student, teacher, researcher, and author. One of India's leading tabla players, he is the recipient of several awards and broadcasts regularly on Indian radio and television. 

Read More: 5 Timeless Books Every Young Adult Should Read

Conclusion

Music is a language on its own. It is the easiest way to express emotions. Even historically, it is our heritage, and learning about it is a part of learning about the great musicians of our history and their work. For singers, or people in this art form who wish to build a career in it, reading books on indian classical music is very important. Even for knowledge, we should be able to tell if this music is our very own indian classical. Indian classical music is the base for many kinds of music. Hence, we must read books about it, and these were some of the best options.