Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-98) and index.

Modernity and tradition. A culture of bewildering variety ; Threads to follow in this text ; The old and new in an ancient land ; Indian music on the move -- Affect. Religious connotation ; Sacred texts ; Verbal syllables ; Song texts ; A musician's practice ; The nine moods ; Extramusical effects ; Conclusion -- Teaching, learning, and performing music. Teaching and learning music ; Old traditions in new packages -- Rhythm and drumming. Tala ; Theka: the tal as a succession of drum ; Counting patterns in tal ; The tabla ; Kayda ; Tihai ; Other drumming traditions ; Conclusion -- Song and performance. Composition and improvisation ; What is a raga? ; Raga in performance ; The on-the-spot development of the composition ; Song texts in classical styles ; Other song genres ; Conclusion -- Instrumentals, melodic and rhythmic. Drone instruments ; Melody instruments ; The sitar and the sarod ; Other melody instruments ; Ensembles ; Conclusion -- The old world joins the new. The postcolonial era ; The effect of the new democracy on music ; Electronics: preserving and spreading the traditions ; Some views form an old master.