Course Description
Winter Quarter 2008
Course : Music 428.
Introduction to the Music of North India.
Time : Tu - Th 1:30 - 2:50PM
Place :
Room 213, Music Building
Instructor : Ramesh Gangolli
What we hope to do and How
The course will have several
complementary objectives: (a) To explore the musical material, ideas, and
conventions that are in common use in Hindustani (i. e. North Indian) music.
(b) To become familiar (through listening and reflection) with some of the
commonly used forms and genres of vocal and instrumental music (c) To explore
selected socio-cultural issues that impinge on the life of musicians: training
of musicians, transmission of musical traditions, diffusion and exchange of
musical ideas, the place of music and musicians in society, the status of
musicians (and especially of female musicians) and so on.
We will try to achieve these
objectives through (a) Classroom sessions that are structured informally,
focused on listening, reading and discussion rather than straight lecturing (b)
Workshops/demonstrations conducted by the instructor and his friends (c)
Listening to live concerts in Ragamala's Concert Series, if available..
Although the course will not
be focussed on teaching students to play or perform a
piece of North Indian music, a limited opportunity
to try to learn and play a piece will present itself
naturally during the course.
Prior knowledge of the Music
of India will not be assumed. As
always, an interest in music, a strong desire to participate and willingness to
take a risk in a supportive environment (among friends) will be most
helpful. In the past, this course has
had quite a diverse audience: students with majors in Music Education,
Ethnomusicology, Composition and Performance majors; several students with
majors outside Music; senior citizens registered under the Access program;
American students of East Indian heritage or graduate students from India who
feel the need to find out more about their musical roots.
If you have questions please
send e-mail to
<gangolli@math.washington.edu>,
or to
<gangolli@u.washington.edu>