Compositional Forms of Hindustani Music: A Journey

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Compositions in Indian Music. 2. Compositions in Post-Bharata period. 3. Changes in Prabhandhas by the period of Ratnakara. 4.  Raga-presentation with Prabandhas. 5. Compositions evolved in medieval period. 6. Spiritual and recreational forms of Gandharva. 7. Changes in the features of compositions since ancient times. Appendices. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

Compositions known as bandis in common parlance, are an integral part of raga-singing in Indian music. Various styles of singing have evolved together with the compositions enriching each other. This work tries to reveal this journey. Although the basic concept of a bandis is the same as in the ancient period, its contents, form, language as well as its names in contemporary music have undergone many changes.

With a rich heritage of musicality, Gandharva, the ancient form of music evolved into various melodic as well as compositional forms. Gandharva was a devotional type of music, meant for the highest spiritual attainment. To make it appealing to the mind (or to derive sensual pleasure), it was moulded into gana forms known today as desi music. The author believes that this recreational form of gandharva presents in minor, delicate songs like rk, gatha, panika, etc., developed into singing forms like dhruva and prabandhas. The prabandhas are a bridge between ancient and modern compositions and styles of singing. This book tries to link contemporary music with delicate forms of gandharva, lasya, nrtya, and uparupakas. (jacket)