Compositions of The Great Tabla Maestros

DETAILS : 

• Author: S.R. Chishti 
  
• Publisher: ‎ ‎ Kanishka Publishers Distributors
  
• Publication date: ‎ 1 January 2016
  
• Language: ‎ English
  
• ISBN-10: ‎ 8184576951
  
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-8184576955
  
• Item Weight: ‎ 400 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Compositions of The Great Tabla Maestros: Splendid and Rare Collection of the Compositions of Tabla Legends of Various Gharanas, authored by the distinguished musicologist Dr. S.R. Chishti, is an essential scholarly and practical compendium dedicated to the preservation of Indian classical percussion. Published by Kanishka Publishers, this book serves as an invaluable archive for students, researchers, and professional percussionists. The fundamental philosophy of this text is to systematically document the diverse oral traditions of Tabla Vadan (Tabla playing), providing structured notation for rare historical rhythmic patterns (Bandishes) that have traditionally been passed down strictly through the Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-disciple lineage).

The book is thoroughly organized into eight comprehensive chapters. The introductory chapter outlines the historical evolution and structural development of the major Gharanas (schools of percussion). The following six chapters provide a meticulous, technical breakdown of the six primary regional stylistic schools or baaj(s): Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Benares, and Punjab. Across these chapters, Dr. Chishti provides precise structural characterizations and notation for approximately 256 traditional compositions, spanning foundational Kaydas, complex Relas, Gats, and Tukdas. The final chapters break unique ground by evaluating the historical contributions of Hazrat Amir Khusro to Indian rhythmic structures, explaining the evolution of early Taal frameworks and concluding with an analytical overview of how this classical art form transitioned into contemporary academic curricula.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dr. S.R. Chishti is a highly respected Indian academician, author, and senior musicologist specializing in Hindustani classical percussion. He has dedicated his career to creating comprehensive, bilingual instructional literature that bridges ancient performance practices with modern university-level music education.

Dr. Chishti's research and writing methodology is deeply objective, analytical, and texturally precise. Rather than presenting abstract rhythmic theory, he focuses on compiling concrete notation systems that retain the accurate phrasing and accentuation intended by the original masters. His extensively sought-after bibliography—which includes authoritative works such as Unique Tabla Gats, Tabla Sanchayan, and Various Forms of Theke in Indian Talas—establishes him as a leading modern archivist of North Indian percussion traditions.