I saw this report in the Deccan Herald today. A new book, "Understanding taalas and raagas" by Vidwan R.Krishnamurthy has been published in two volumes. The report does not say where the book is available.
If anyone knows of a bookstore in Bangalore which has this, please let us know. Reviews would also help.
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Sep ... 187799.asp
To save you the trouble of going to the URL, I have pasted the report below:
Understanding taalas and ragaas
Any book that goes deeply into the basics of music and dance is for keeps. Especially because such books are hard to come by. In this context, release of a book with important theories on music and dance for artists and students gains much significance. Laya Vinyaasam (Vol I & II) is a 250-page book that touches upon all important aspects of taalas with the idea that a person should first understand the taalas before any kind of practical approach is adopted. The book approaches the subject with a mathematical angle.
In the presence of city’s prominent literary figures, the book was released at the Gayana Samaja. Authored by Mridanga Vidwan R Krishna Murthy, the book discusses 18 different areas such as the location of places in Chaturashra Jaathi Thriputa Thaala and their relation to the Jathis, the principles for construction of attractive patterns of Jathis, patterns of phrases in different forms and their repetition among other important subjects.
The book is not only useful for percussive artists and musicians but also to teachers and students of music and dance. The work has been greatly appreciated by maestros in the field of music. Their inputs have been briefly mentioned in the book. The principles for patterns applicable to any thaalam in any gathi has been mentioned with simple rules and easy method to use them appropriately.
The book was released by Mahamohopadhyaya Dr R Sathyanarayana. Mridanga Kala Shiromani Vid A V Anand was the chief guest. After the release, a lecture demonstration on some of the concepts mentioned in the book was done by Vid R Krishna Murthy and other speakers.
They focussed on Mridangam, Kanjira and the Ghatam. The applicability for Swarakalpana was demonstrated by Vidushis Shakuntala Srinivas and Sukanya Narayan. Each volume is priced at Rs 250.