Inventing The Sarod : A Cultural History

A major study of the sarod, a leading stringed instrument in Hindustani classical music, documenting the cultural origins, historical development and music styles of this instrumental tradition over the last three centuries. It does this by recording the history of its musicians, their social organization, patron groups, modes of patronage, musical and aesthetic developments, instrument design and construction, narratives, musical terminology, and conception of musical sound over this period. In so doing, it provides a detailed account of how this community of musicians devised and implemented strategies to deal with the major challenges generated by a succession of political economies from pre-modern times to the present. It highlights the cultural syncretism and diversity that has underpinned the development of the tradition to date. The book also sets out to construct a methodology that historicizes sound and makes it an object of stud