Ganasagaram - An Ocean Of Music - Book 2

Description

In recent decades, Carnatic classical music has spread extensively in many countries outside India and is being taught in several universities in U.S.A. It is also in great need in countries where people of Indian origin have settled in large numbers and these countries include South Africa and Malaysia. Students belonging to other countries, both Eastern and Western, are also keen on learning Carnatic music and this has necessitated the music being written down in the English script with notation and a commentary explaining the meaning of the songs.

Mrs. Apeetha Narayanan has had her early training in music in India from competent teachers and has been living in Malaysia for many decades. She has been teaching Carnatic music to students of Indian origin as well as those belonging to other countries and has gained considerable experience as a teacher. With a view to assisting her students as well as others to learn the songs through the medium of the English script, she has now come forward to publish a choice selection of songs which include varnams for beginners and expositions suitable for advanced students in music. The songs include compositions of the Trinity, in Sanskrit and Telugu, as well as songs in Tamil by Arunagirinathar, Vedanayakam Pillai and Papanasam Sivan. The raga and tale of the songs, the names of the composers and the ascending and descending scales of the ragas have been clearly indicated. A simple notation follows with suitable signs to show the octaves of the notes. The substance of each song has been furnished in chaste English for the benefit of those not familiar with Indian languages.

The book will be of immense use to those for whom it is intended, and I am sure they will be benefitted by the efforts of Mrs. Narayanan.

In fact, it can be made use of even by music students in India, who are not acquainted with the Sanskrit or Telugu scripts. I commend the book to all students and lovers of music.