Time in Indian Music: Rhythm, Metre, and Form in North Indian Rag Performance

Time in Indian Music is the first major study of rhythm, metre, and form in North Indian rag, or classical, music. Martin Clayton presents a theoretical model for the organization of time in this repertory, a model which is related explicitly to other spheres of Indian thought and culture as well as to current ideas on musical time in alternative repertories—including that of Western music. This theoretical model is elucidated and illustrated with reference to numerous musical examples drawn from authentic recorded performances, many of which can be found on the accompanying CD. These examples clarify key Indian musicological concepts such as tal (metre), lay (tempo or rhythm), and laykari (rhythmic variation). More generally, the volume addresses the implications of cognitive processes for the organization of musical time, and the relationship between performance practice, theoretical speculation, and the organization of rhythm and metre. Written in a clear and accessible style and illustrated with 102 music examples and diagrams, it will appeal to anyone interested in Indian aesthetic forms and the study of musical time.