Page:The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan.djvu/21



F late years so many works of importance, dealing with the subject of National music, have appeared that for the publication of this book the author feels that some apology is necessary.

The subject of Indian music, presenting, as it does, ideas so fresh and a musical system so distinct from what we in Europe are accustomed to, necessarily offers an ever-widening field for research and study. It is curious to note that while so many works upon the arts or industries of India have, in recent times, appeared, the subject of Indian music has been generally thought devoid of all science and unworthy, therefore, of any serious consideration.

Sir William Jones, at the end of the last century, endeavoured to dispel ideas of this nature, and his learned essay upon The Musical Modes of the Hindus has formed the basis of almost all Indian musical research. Some forty years later Captain Augustus Willard, who at that time commanded the troops in the service of H.H. the Nawab of Banda, published an interesting little Treatise upon the Music of Hindustan, a book which is now so scarce as to be almost unobtainable. Notwithstanding the real interest of both these works they are, unfortunately, of comparatively small practical use to the ordinary musical enquirer, unless, indeed, he is fortunate enough to possess a considerable previous knowledge of the subject.

The work which is now published has been the result of much study and research during a term of foreign service while the author's regiment was in India. And it is hoped that the information here offered for the first time may prove of interest, and may assist in some small degree in supplying a want hitherto felt among musicians and students of National musical literature. To render the book of greater value, and to assist those who may make further