Some sources for the history of the
Hindustani system of music.
This is a skeletal list that includes only the most important landmarks.
Also consult the two articles by Bhatkhande on your reading list for a
more extensive view.
1. Bharata's Natya Sastra (4th century
AD; some say ca. 1st century BC to 1st century AD.)
This is the oldest known work in Sanskrit on the performing arts of India. It is
principally a work about drama and dramaturgy. There are several editions of this. The two that I have seen
and liked are : (a) The edition in the Gaekwad Oriental Series edited by
Ramakrishna Kavi, and J.S. Pande; Baroda 1926; and (b) the Nirnayasagar Press
edition; Bombay 1943.
The translation by Manmohan Ghosh into English (Calcutta 1967) should also be
mentioned, but I have not looked at it.
2. Matanga's Brhaddesi (ca. 8th
century; dating controversial)
The first edition is Sambasiva Sastry's 1928 Trivandrum edition.
In 1994, Prem Lata Sharma assisted by A. Beohar) published a superb
annotated edition in two volumes, entitled “Brhaddesi
of Sri Matanga Muni”. It is published by Motilal Banarasidas, Delhi.
3. Dattila's work known as the Dattilam. (ca. 7th century; dating uncertain, but
it seems that most scholars agree that this falls between Bharata's and
Matanga's works)
I have read and enjoyed Mukund Lath's careful study of this work published in
1978 (Impex Press, New Delhi). It is entitled "A Study of Dattilam; a treatise on the sacred music of ancient
India."
4. Abhinavagupta's Abhinavabharati (ca. beginning of the 11th century).
This is a commentary on the Natya Sastra.
Many of the ideas of Bharata regarding sruti
etc. are explicated with great care. This commentary is incorporated in the
edition of the Natya Sastra by
Ramakrishna Kavi.
5. Sarngadeva's Sangeeta Ratnakara (ca. first half of 13th century).
The classic is the 1897 edition by M. R. Telang; I have only seen this once in
Bombay. The most accessible edition is the one published by the Madras Music
Academy, edited by S. Subramanya Sastri, Madras 1944. In 1978, Prem Lata Sharma and R. K. Shringy completed two
volumes of a projected three volume critical edition.
The first volume appeared, but so far as I know, the second was never
printed, and the third never completed.
In 1994, the first volume was reprinted and published by Motilal
Banarasidass, Delhi. This publisher
also planned to publish the second volume that was never printed in 1978, but I
do not know if the second volume has appeared or not.
6. Kallinatha's Kalanidhi (ca. 15th century)
This is a commentary on Sarngadeva's work. It is included in the Madras edition
of the Sangeeta Ratnakara cited above.
7. Ramamatya’s Swaramelakalanidhi.
(ca. 1550 AD)
This work begins to take the first steps towards a systematization.
There is an edition by M. S. Ramaswamy Aiyaar , published at Annamalai,
1932, by the Madras Music Academy (?)
8. Venkatamakhi’s Caturdandi Prakasika (ca. 1640 AD)
This is the work in which the first exposition of the Melakarta system occurs
. It is the basis of the Karnatak
music that is prevalent today. The
only edition is edited by S. Subrahmanya Sastri, T. V. Subba Rao, and T. L.
Venkatarama Ayyar, published by the Music Academy, Madras, 1934.
9. Pratap Singh’s Sangita Sar (ca. 1800AD)
According to the author, this is a compilation of what was regarded as “common
knowledge” at the time. It is
internally inconsistent in many respects, but is useful in tracing the evolution
of certain specfic ideas, especially since it mentions some sources from which
its material is borrowed.
10. Muhammad Karam Imam’s M‘adanu’l-musiqi
(1857)
This is in Urdu, and represents the first know account of the system as
perceived by a Muslim scholar, and deals specifically with some of the Persian
influences.
11. Subbarama Dikshitar’s Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini (1904)
The Melakarta system is explained
further. The viewpoint that one should think of ragas as melody
types that provide the basis for performances which are improvised freely, but
subject to certain structural conventions is implicit in this work.
This view was later made precise, extended, expounded more completely by
V. N. Bhatkhande, (1860-1936)
12. Bhatkhande’s Hindustani
Sangita Paddhati (1910-1932); Revised edition 1998-2000
This is four volume work dealing with the system that is implicit in of present
day practice of Hindustani music. This four volume work has certainly been the
most influential in terms of its impact on the thinking of present day
performers. It was written
originally in Marathi, and went out of print quite soon after the first edition
appeared. In 1951-57, a Hindi
translation, published by Hathras Press, Hathras, appeared.
It is, unfortunately, not a very careful translation. It is still in print. Recently,
Popular Prakashan, a publisher in Bombay has started to issue a revised edition
of the Marathi original, and the first two volumes have appeared, the third is
due out this summer. The last
volume is under production, and presumably will come before the end of the year.