The Multiplicities of Hindustani Music: Re-envisioning a National Tradition

The Multiplicities of Hindustani Music explores the dynamic social and economic world of North Indian raga-based music over the twentieth century and into the present day.By approaching Hindustani music from beyond geographical and social centers, author Anna Morcom challenges the conventional framing of Hindustani music as a singular “classical” tradition, tracing its historical entanglements with popular, devotional, and commercial forms.In doing so, she uncovers new dimensions of its history, richness, strengths, contradictions, and challenges, and provides insights into future sustainability.The Multiplicities of Hindustani Music looks at Hindustani music as historically patronized by elites but existing also as a common culture in fairs and festivals in temples, shrines, and the estates of royalty and landowners.Khyal in particular, today's main classical vocal style, flourished not only as court music but in Sufi shrines as the repertoire of qawwals, and lineages of khyal singers