The raga guide: A survey of 74 Hindustani ragas

A superb introduction to the music of the northern Indian sub-continent, far more than a set of descriptive notes to the four CDs, containing 74 beautifully played ragas. A magnificent achievement. ( )

Discussion of the concept of raga in Northern Indian music. Looks at each of the ragas that are popular modernly, includes a short selection of a typical raga performance, and a transcription of the major elements of the song are noted in Western style notation. Lastly it has a list of pictures from Ragamala paintings - classical images of a human form which embodies a raga or ragnini. Many of the pictures date to close to my focus period. One or two are within the 16th century. Though it's all modern, and all Hindustani, this is definitely on of my picks for first book to buy to understand Indian music. ( )