Page:The Music of India.djvu/9



No one feels more than the author the deficiencies of this book and the inadequacy of its presentation of a great and living culture. My only real qualification is my love for India, and a keen interest in both the practice and theory of Indian music. This little work is sent out into the world in the hope that it may help to make known the great value of Indian music and that it may play some part, however small, in the improvement and spread of this culture throughout India.

My deepest obligations are to Mr. A. H. Fox Strangways, whose Music of Hindostan is the best of the few books which seek to give something like an adequate account of the subject. India can never be too grateful to this musical scholar for the limitless labour, love and imagination he has lavished on Indian music. I have drawn very freely from his book, not only accepting many of his ideas as to the development of music both within and without India, but also borrowing a few of his brief definitions and some expository passages of greater length. I owe him a further debt for the large amount of personal help he has given me. He read my manuscript from beginning to end more than once, explained a number of musical difficulties, and, above all, provided the material for the account of the Indian scale, and allowed me to consult him freely while I worked up the material into Chapter III.