The Great Masters: Profiles in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music

A collector’s volume with rare photographs of artists, this work is a minefield of information for the musically inclined. The tradition of classical music in India goes back many centuries. A rich and developed art form, it has two main categories, Hindustani and Carnatic, belonging respectively to the North and South of India. Within them they contain a plethora of artists, instruments and styles of both vocal and instrumental music.  This work highlights the life and work of some of the leading vocal artists of Hindustani music. It puts into perspective their valuable contributions to this field and fills a lacuna in the area of musical biographies.  Nandkarni’s narration combines biographical information with interviews and analysis, a wider historical and cultural perspective. He gives valuable information about Hindustani music, its evolution and development, its present and future prospects. The various gharanas and styles in Hindustani music and their contribution to this art form have been highlighted in his approach to musical analysis. Nandkarni has used more than four decades of experience as a music critic to make the work relevant to our times.