Time in Indian Music

This book is a study of rhythm, metre, and form in North Indian rāg, or classical, music. The author presents a theoretical model for the organization of time in this repertory, a model which is related explicitly to other spheres of Indian thought and culture as well as to current ideas on musical time in alternative repertories — including that of Western music. This theoretical model is elucidated and illustrated with reference to many musical examples, drawn from authentic recorded performances. These examples clarify key Indian musicological concepts such as tāl (metre), lay (tempo or rhythm), and laykārī (rhythmic variation). More generally, the volume addresses the implications of performance practice for the organization of rhythm and metre.