The writings on Indian music have been mostly on theoretical aspects and mainly by theoreticians and not by practicing musicians. It is still rare to find a woman performer who has written on music performance from different angles. In Enlightening the Listener, Prabha Atre, a noted vocalist examines with a liberal and holistic approach various aspects of a Contemporary North Indian Classical Vocal Music Performance for a lay listener. While doing this she critically and objectively tries to seek in the context of changing times new meaning appropriate to what has come down from tradition. Her academic background, analytical mind, logical approach and communication skills put this book in a special category. This book deals with various aspects of music performance as also persons and institutions involved in 'Music Making'. Dr. Atre's diverse e While doing this she critically and objectively tries to seek in the context of changing times new meaning appropriate to what has come down from tradition. Her academic background, analytical mind, logical approach and communication skills put this book in a special category. This book deals with various aspects of music performance as also persons and institutions involved in 'Music Making'. Dr. Atre's diverse experience as a singer, composer, teacher and thinker has lent authenticity to this work. From a point of view of a lay listener, she unfolds artistically the creative process of music making and thus gently guides the reader towards better appreciation. The accompanying cassette with illustrations is an added feature of this book. Listening to it will help the reader to identify the musical material and forms and gives an idea of the techniques involved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prabha Atrre
Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Padmabhushan and Kalidas Samman awardee, Dr. Prabha Atre is an eminent personality in the field of music. She is revered as a brilliant thinker, performer, academician, composer, and teacher. A former Assistant Producer with the All Indian Radio, former Professor and Head of the Department of Music, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai and former Producer-Director of the recording company ‘Swarashree’ devoted only to classical music, Dr. Prabha Atre has a rare blend of skill and insight. Dr. Atre has displayed constant innovation and creative endeavour which has distinguished her from other vocalists both in the classical and light-classical idioms. A senior vocalist representing the Kirana gharaanaa, Dr. Atrre was trained by the late Shri Sureshbabu Mane and Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar and drew inspiration from the styles of late Amir Khan and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Dr. Atre has been teaching in the traditional guru-shishya style for more than thirty-five years and is an accclaimed guru in India and abroad both in performance and research. 'Dr. Prabha Atrre Foundation' set up by her aims to promote the cause of Indian culture and performing arts. She has also established 'Swaramayee gurukul' to bridge the prevailing gap between the academic institutions and the traditional guru-shishya paramparaa by nurturing talented students into complete professionals. Dr. Atrre has authored several academic books on the various aspects of music that are especially relevant to the present day performance. Her Doctoral thesis on 'Sargam' or the use of sol-fa names as musical material, which is perhaps a pioneering work on the subject, bears testimony to her various accomplishments. Her books 'Swaramayee,' 'Swaraalee,' 'Swaraanginee,' 'Antahswar,' 'Snilghtening the Listener' have all been well received by both lay and knowledgeable listeners.
There are no reviews yet.