{"product_id":"dancing-with-devtas-drums-power-and-possession-in-the-music-of-garhwal-north-india-soas-studies-in-music-9780754656692","title":"Dancing with Devtas Drums Power and Possession in","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the Central Himalayan region of Garhwal, the gods (devtas) enjoy dancing. Musicians - whether ritual specialists or musical specialists - are therefore an indispensable part of most entertainment and religious events. In shamanistic ceremonies, their incantations, songs and drumming ''make'' the gods possess their mediums. In other contexts, such as dramatic theatrical renditions of stories of specific deities, actors ''dance'' the role of their character having become possessed by the spirit of their character. Through the powerful sounds of their drumming, musicians cause the gods to dance. Music, and more particularly musical sound, is perceived in Garhwal as a powerful force.  Andrew Alter examines music and musical practice in Garhwal from an analytical perspective that explores the nexus between musical sounds and performance events. He provides insight into performance practice, vocal techniques, notions of repertoire classification, instruments, ensembles, performance venues\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e’Andrew Alter’s fascinating book shows that music in Garhwal is more than just a system of organised sounds. Instead, it underpins a belief that Nada (’a pervading causal sound that animates the universe’) can be echoed on earth through the powerful practice of drumming. ... Alter provides closequarter detail on musical practice in both secular and sacred contexts and close scrutiny of the copious musical examples, while a 60-minute companion CD illustrates the text and his revealing analysis to telling effect.’ Songlines  'The book’s strength lies mainly in richly describing a fragment of an extensive drumming tradition... Alter’s work draws attention to the role of percussion not merely as accompaniment, but more importantly as the defining feature of musical events that are critical in religious and life-cycle rituals... In keeping with other books of the SOAS musicology series, this volume is handsomely produced - a hardcover book with a tastefully designed dust jacket, ample photographs and musical notations, a CD.' Asian Ethnology\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eContents: Introduction: Part 1 Contextualising the Study: Sounding the drum: power and meaning in the context of performance: Dev Bhumi: land of the gods; Caste groups and instrumentalists; Performance genres and dance practice; Musical instruments in Garhwal; Dhol Sagar: the ocean of drumming. Part 2 Analysis and Description of Musical Events: Musical Power in the Context of Performance: Drumming associated with Pañdavalila; Music in the context of wedding celebrations; The Pawara of Kirthipal and Kunjepal; Conclusion;; Appendices; Glossary of selected Garhwali and Hindi terms; Bibliography; Discography of selected commercially released tapes; Index.","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49404728705367,"sku":"9780754656692","price":137.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/dancing-with-devtas-drums-power-and-possession-in-the-music-of-garhwal-north-india-soas-studies-in-music-9780754656692","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}