Table Of ContentVijay Shanker Mishra
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Art and Science of
PLAYING TABLA
. ■
Art and Science of
PLAYING TABLA
Vijay Shanker Mishra
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of India
First published : 2015 (Saka 1936)
© Author
ISBN: 978-81-230-1880-5
A&C-ENG-OP-016-2014-15
Price : ? 220.00
Published by the Additional Director General, Publications Division,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India,
Soochna Bhavan, C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
http://w\vw\pubIicationsdivision.nic.in
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It gives me immense pleasure to introduce the
writer of this book, Shri Vijay Shanker Mishra, whose
hard-work and uninterrupted spirit has enabled him
to bring this book for the avid followers of Indian
Classical Music.
I am sure, this will certainly impart valuable
information to all students of tabla and percussion,
subject as a whole.
Shri Vijay Shanker Mishra is a well-known music
critic and writer of many books on music. I admire
his enthusiasm and efforts for the work he has been
doing to educate and inform the advanced students
of Indian Classical Music.
In this book he has explained six vital schools
of Indian tabla. In addition to that, he has brought
forward rare compositions of these gharanas that
would be of immense importance for each student
of tabla.
I wish him all the very best.
Blessings
Padma Vibhushan Pt. Ram Narayan
'
FOREWORD
It is a privilege to write the foreword of this book, which deals
with the art and science of Tabla playing, written by none other
than the eminent scholar, music writer and accomplished Tabla gum,
Pt. Vijay Shanker Mishra.
Pt. Vijay Shanker, trained under the tutelage of his illustrious
father Pt. Gama Maharaj, belongs to long lineage of Tabla players
of the Banaras Gharana. Though himself a traditionalist, Vijayji
uses contemporary research methodology to analyse the Tabla, Tabla
playing, its origin and its development over the centuries from a
modem perspective. A veteran writer and a musicologist of repute,
he has to his credit more than 5000 articles and publications.
Pt. Vijay Shanker Mishra also presented a 13-episode serial on the
“History of the Tabla”, which was broadcast by All India Radio. In
this programme, Vijayji looked into many of the theories and stories
regarding the origin of the Tabla. Separating history from myth and
lore for the first time, Vijayji demonstrated how many of the
prevalent beliefs regarding the origin of the Tabla were more myths
or “gathas” (stories). He went on to put forth a theory regarding
the origin of the Tabla and the development of various playing
techniques, by textual and other forms of evidence, which has been
generally accepted by Tabla players, scholars and connoisseurs
alike.
Translated into English by Debasish Chakraborty, this present
work is a continuation of his previous efforts. In this book Vijayji
writes-about 35 Taalas, including some very rare Taalas. Also this
book contains rare compositions by the Masters of different
Gharanas. He also covers the Gharanas and their Vaadan styles
and their particular compositions along with the Varnas (alphabets)
of the ancient Tabla with reference to Bharata’s and Sharangdev’s
Sangeet Ratnakar. The book also refers to various playing
techniques and the ‘moods’ of the Tabla, the three notation systems
of Indian music and the staff notation, while throwing light on what
should be a Tabla solo recital and Tabla accompaniment. Finally
the book provides brief biographies of some of the Tabla greats
and, in a first, discusses some promising contemporary Tabla players
as well. With its wide range and in-depth coverage of topics, this is
a store-house of information on the Tabla from a modem perspective.
The book will be a valuable reference to all those who want to
leam about the Tabla and Tabla playing from a modem perspective
- connoisseurs, scholars and experts. Students, especially at the
post-graduate level would find it particularly useful for their studies.
I pray that Pt. Vijay Shanker Mishra continues with his efforts
to enlighten us with his research and wish him luck for all his future
endeavours.
Padmashri Pt. Bhajan Sopori
Santoor Maestro & Composer
(Dated 3 Nov 2014)
