' ' : '.."-","' i / i : .: \ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY MUSIC e VerSl,y Ubrary ML 338.fl2 i882 3 1924 022 411 650 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92402241 1 650 " HINDU MUSIC FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS, POM.PIL.ED AND J^UBLISHED RAJAH COMM. SOURINDRO MOHUN TAGORE, MUS. DOC.J F.R.S.L., M.U.A.S., Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire ; KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE FIRST CLASS OF THE ORDER OF ALBERT, SAXONY ; OF THE ORDER OF LEOPOLD, BELGIUM ; FRANCIS OF THE MOST EXALTED ORDEE OF JOSEPH, AUSTRIA ; OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE CROWN OF ITALY ; OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF DANNEBROG, DENMARK ; AND OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF MELTJSINE OF PRINCESS MARY OF LUSIGNAN ; FRANC CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE MONT-REAL, JERUSALEM, RHODES HOLY SAVIOUR OF AND MALTA ; COMMANDEUR DE ORDRE RELIGIEOX ET MILITAIRE DE SAINT-SAUVEUR DE MONT-REAL, DE SAINT-JEAN DE JERUSALEM, TEMPLE, SAINT SEPULCRE, DE RHODES ET MALTE DU DU REFORME ; KNIGHT OF THE FIRST CLASS OF THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF THE " PAOU SING," OR PRECIOUS STAR, CHINA ; OF THE SECOND CLASS OF THE HIGH IMPERIAL ORDER OF THE LION AND SUN, PERSIA; OF THE SECOND CLASS OF THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF MEDJIDIE, TURKEY ; OF THE ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF CHRIST, AND PORTUGAL ; KNIGHT THE OF BASABAMALA, OF ORDER SIAM ; AND OF THE GURKHA STAR, NEPAL ; " NAWAB SHAHZADA FROM THE SHAH OF PERSIA, &C, &C, &C. IN TWO PARTS. SECOND EDITION. Calcutta: Printed by I. 0. Bose & Co., Stanhope Press, 249, Bow-Bazar Street. 1882. [All rights reserved.'] PREFACE TO THE EIEST EDITION. The very deep interest which the European Public have of late evinced with regard to my humble labors towards the revival of Hindu Music, has created in me a desire to present to them a collection of all that have ever been written on the subject by the Oriental Scholars of Europe, together with my own comments on their views and on those of our ancient Sanscrit musical writers. The whole will consist of two parts : The first part contains extracts from almost all the eminent works on Hindu Music extant in the English language. It is therefore hoped that the present collection, not- withstanding its short-comings, will be received with indulgence by those interested in the subject. Should this hope be realized, I purpose soon to publish the - second part which will contain a dissertation on our ancient Sanscrit musical works and a criticism on the different views taken by the European writers on Hindu Music, together with further collections if available. All the extracts bear the name of the works from which they have been taken. With regard to one taken from the " Ain-i-Akbari," a valuable translation of which has lately been published by H. Blochmann, Esq., m. a., I have only to add that my best acknowledgments are due to that learned gentleman for his kind permission to make use of his work. SOURINDEO MOHUN TAGORE. CALCUTTA, PATHURIAGHATA, The 28th January, 1875. PEEFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. The increasing interest which has of late been evinced by the Public in the Music of India, has led me to bring out a second edition of this work. I have incorporated with this a further collection of the views of foreign writers on Hindu Music, which has been placed in the second part. As I have already published a Dissertation on Indian Music under the designation of " Six Principal Kagas of the Hindus," I have thought it unnecessary to give in this work my own views on the subject, such as I had promised to do, while bringing out the first edition. My acknowledgments are due to the learned writers, extracts from whose works form the subject of Part II. SOURINDRO MOHUN TAGORE. CALCUTTA, ^ PATHURIAGHATA RAJBATI, C 20th October 1882. \ PART I. ..... CONTENTS, Page. A Treatise on the Music of Hindoostan. By Captain N. Augustus Willard ... .. ... .. .. .. 1-122 On the Musical Modes of the Hindoos. By Sir William Jones . 125-160 Anecdotes of Indian Music. By Sir W. Ouseley . 163-172 On the GrSmas or Musical Scales of the Hindus. By J. D. Paterson, Esq. .. .. .. ... .. ., 175-189 On the Vina or Indian Lyre. By Francis Fowke, Esq. 193-197 Sungeet. By Francis Gladwin, Esq. 201-208 The Naqqarahkhanah and the Imperial Musicians. Translated by H. Blochmann, Esq., M. a. .. .. .. 211-216 The Music of Hindustan or India. By William C. Stafford . 218-228 Music of the Hindus. By J. Nathan .. .. .. 231-232 On the Music of Hindustan. (From the Scientific Intelligence.) . 235-239 Catalogue of Indian Musical Instruments. By Col. P. T. French . 243-273 Music. By Lieut.-Col. James Tod .. .. .. 277-282 Notes on the Musical Instruments of the Nepalese. By A. Camp- bell, Esq., M. D. .. .. .. .. .. 285-290 Music of Ceylon. By John Davy, m. d., t. e. s. 293-294 Music and Dancing. By Crawfurd, Esq. .. .. ,,. 297-308 — A TREATISE ON THE MUSIC OF HINJDOOSTAN, COMPRISING A DETAIL OF The Ancient Theory AND MODEBN PRACTICE. The similarity of the music of Egypt and Greece to- that of this eountry has been traced and pointed out : harmony and melody have been compared : and time noticed. The varieties of song have been enumerated, and the character of each detailed : a brief account of the principal musicians superadded, and the work concluded with a short alphabetical glossary of the most useful musical terms. The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons. Shakespear's Merchant of Venice. BY CAPTAIN N. AUGUSTUS WILLARD, Commanding in the Service of B, H. the Nawab of Banda. TO LADY W. C. BENTINCK, &C &C» dsc. Madam, The illustrious statesman, our present Governor-General, to whom the administration of the affairs of India is entrusted, has done so much for the good of the country at large, and for the benefit of my countrymen in particular, that I consider myself, though not individually benefited by them, as bound to acknowledge them. The sentiments of gratitude conveyed in a private letter are only known to the parties concerned, or if recorded in a newspaper, are but of ephemeral existence, and I have, therefore, taken this method of expressing my humble sentiments towards His Lordship ; and from your Ladyships relation to Lord W. 0. Bentinck, you will, I entertain no doubt, feel an equal degree of satisfaction, when convinced of the real sentiments of one of a community whom he has laid under such important obligations. With respect to yourself, Madam, I have only to observe, that it was chiefly with the view of being enabled to dedicate the work to your Ladyship, that it has been so abruptly and almost prematurely introduced to public view, in this season of public depression through the recent failures. With my heartfelt acknowledgments for the very condescending and handsome manner in which your Ladyship has been pleased to accede to my request, that you would permit me the honor of dedicating the work to your Ladyship. I beg to subscribe myself, with all respect, Madam, Tour Ladyship's very obedient, and much obliged humble servant, N. A. WILLARD. .. .. CONTENTS. Page. Preface. A general view of the plan and contents of the work 1 Introduction. Music. Its power on the human mind. That of Hin- dustan. The opinion of the Natives with respect to their ancient musicians. How a knowledge of it may be acquired. Not generally liked by Europeans. Reasons assigned for this. Native opinion with regard to its lawfulness. Musical instruments. Relation of music to poetry considered. Progress of music in Hindustan. The manner of life which should be led to ensure eminence in this science. Cause of its depravity. Date of its decline. The similarity which the music of this country seems to bear to that of Egypt and Greece. How a knowledge of the. music of Hindustan might conduce to a revival of that of those countries. Comparisons offered. Whether the Natives of Greece or Hindustan had made greater progress in music. Comparisons decide in favor of the latter . 15 Hindustanee Music. What it is termed in the original. The treatises held in the greatest estimation. Native divisions what and how many. The arrangement adopted in, this work .. ..37 Of the Gamut. What it is called. The derivation of the word. The subdivisions of tones. Resemblance of these to the Great diesis. Opinions of Dr. Burney and Mr. Moore on the enharmonic genus. Names of the seven notes. Origin of these. The gamut invented by Guido and Le Maire. Dr. Pepusch. Srooti . '39 Of Time. The various measures used in Europe. Difference between them and those of Hindustan. Their resemblance to the rhythm of the Greeks. Similarity between the Greek and Sungscrit languages. The Hebrew unmusical, likewise the Arabic. Melody and metre considered. Tartini's objections against metre, endeavoured to bo controverted. The dignified prose in Sungscrit, and tongues derived from it. Its superiority to the Oordu. Probable origin of the modern musical measure. Tartini's deduction of measure from the proportions of the octave and its fifth, opposed to the practice of Hindustan. Whether the rhythmical or the musical measure possesses greater advantages. Opinion hazarded thereon. Time table. Characters for expressing time. Their varieties . 45 Of Harmony and Melody. The origin and harmony in Europe. Opi- nions of several learned men on the subject of harmony with that of the author.