Sangita Sastra Sangraha (A Guide to Theory of Indian Music)

It contains the names of sixty - four Arts, Music as a remedial agent to cure diseases, A chart giving the variety of svaras taken and the application of Katapayadi formula for all the 72 melakartas, Classification of Janya ragas in detail, A table illustrating all the varieties of vakra ragas, Ragalaksanas illustrating graha svaras (the starting note) and nyasa svaras (ending note) through phrases pertaining to the ragas, and sancaras for the ragas, Characteristic features of the musical forms belonging to technical group and melodic group, Symbols used to represent a song in notation, biographies and contribution of eminent vaggeyakaras,

Dr. M. B. Vedavalli took her M.A. degree in Music, from Madras University in the year 1962. She was awarded Doctoral degree for her thesis on "Mysore as a seat of Music" in the year 1983 and D. Litt. degree in the year 2004.

She has handled both Theory of Music and Practical classes for both undergraduate and post - graduate courses for about 33 years in various institutions imparting Music education.

She was a Lecturer in Stella Maris College, Madras, for seven years, Head of the Department of Music in Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Trichy, for six years and in the Music Department of Madras University, for 20 years and retired as Professor and Head in the year 1995.

Her training under pallavi exponents and her vast experience as Lecturer in colleges and university has enabled her to write an elaborate work dealing with the evolution, structure and procedure followed in singing Ragam, Tanam and Pallai for which she was awarded D. Litt. degree.

She has authored several books on music and has presented research papers and Lecture - demonstrations in many seminars organized by the universities and sabhas.

This book titled 'Sangita Sastra Sangraha' deals with all the fundamental aspects of theory of Karnatic music viz. Sruti, Svara, Raga, Tala Musical forms, Notation, Ragalaksana and a few biographies of composers. Almost all the aspects dealt with in this book have been illustrated with tables and practical aspects with notation, to enable the students as well as readers to understand them easily.

Moreover, the book covers the Theory portion of the syllabus prescribed for the Lower Grade Examination in Indian Music conducted by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The relevant syllabus and a sample question paper has been printed for reference. It has also included almost all the topics prescribed for Theory of Music for the First Year of the Higher Secondary Education for Indian Music under Group (B) of Part III (optionals) for Vocational Education by the Government of Tamil Nadu and the topics prescribed by the Government of Karnataka for Junior Grade Examination in Music for the theory of Music.

I hope this book will satisfy the requirements of Music teachers, students of Music, aspirants of Music and Music lovers.

I take this opportunity to thank Dr.N.Ramanathan, Professor and Head, Department of Indian Music, University of Madras (Retd.), for his valuable suggestions and also for providing valuable books of the Library of the Department of Indian Music for consultation.

I am thankful to Mrs. R.S. Jayalakshmi, Lecturer, Department of Music, University of Madras (Retd.), for her useful suggestions and other help rendered.

I express my sincere thanks to U.Ve. T.E. Ranganathachariar, Sanskrit Scholar, for the help rendered to me in the translation of Sanskrit works.

My thanks are due to my brother, Mr. M.B. Sriman Narayan, M.A., for providing materials for the preparation of the book.

My profuse thanks are due to my husband, Mr.G.R.Srinviasan, and my brothers, Mr. M. B. Ramaswamy, Mr. M. B. Sampathkumar for the help rendered by them at different stages in the preparation of the book. I express my SIncere gratitude to my Sister - in - law, Mr.Lalitha Sampathkumar, for the efforts taken by her for type - setting this book with all diacritic marks and special symbols pertaining to music within a short time and for the neat execution of the job.