This book argues that Carnatic music as it is practiced today can be traced to the musical practices of early/mid eighteenth century. Earlier varieties or 'incarnations' of Indian music elaborately described in many musical treatises are only of historical relevance today as the music described is quite different from current practices. It is argued that earlier varieties may not have survived because they failed to meet the three crucial requirements for a language-like organism to survive i.e., a robust community of practitioners/listeners which the author calls the Carnatic Music Fraternity, a sizeable body of musical texts and a felt communicative need. In fact, the central thesis of the book is that Carnatic music, like language, survived and evolved from early/mid eighteenth century when these three requirements were met for the first time in the history of Indian music. The volume includes a foreword by Paul Kiparsky.

Most classical musicians, whether in orchestral or ensemble situations, will have to face a piece by composers such as Ligeti, Messiaen, Varèse or Xenakis, while improvisers face music influenced by Dave Holland, Steve Coleman, Aka Moon, Weather Report, Irakere or elements from the Balkans, India, Africa or Cuba. Rafael Reina argues that today’s music demands a new approach to rhythmical training, a training that will provide musicians with the necessary tools to face, with accuracy, more varied and complex rhythmical concepts, while keeping the emotional content. Reina uses the architecture of the South Indian Karnatic rhythmical system to enhance and radically change the teaching of rhythmical solfege at a higher education level and demonstrates how this learning can influence the creation and interpretation of complex contemporary classical and jazz music. The book is designed for classical and jazz performers as well as creators, be they composers or improvisers, and is a clear and complete guide that will enable future solfege teachers and students to use these techniques and their methodology to greatly improve their rhythmical skills. An accompanying website of audio examples helps to explain each technique. For examples of composed and improvised pieces by students who have studied this book, as well as concerts by highly acclaimed karnatic musicians, please copy this link to your browser: http://www.contemporary-music-through-non-western-techniques.com/pages/1587-video-recordings

‘Children’s Carnatic’ is a series of books that uses simple story telling with beautiful illustrations, to open a curious window to Indian Music and Dance forms, which are one of the most ancient in the world. This is curated in a fun way to engage you and your child with every read. This series comes in handy for teachers to engage young minds as well. Creation and story telling by Bhavana Pradyumna. Illustrations by Eshani Lasya Edited by Pradyumna Srinath Kandadai Published by Conservatoire Carnatique de Paris/ Carnatic Conservatory of Paris

"Approach to Music : the Indian way" is a book published by Carnatic Conservatory of Paris - “Is this book any different from other introductory books about Carnatic Music?" It’s the approach outlined in this book that makes it different. This book provides valuable information about some of the very important aspects of Carnatic music which can be used as a basic guide to Carnatic music learners. The book also gives the reader an insight into Indian musician’s perception of Western music while providing an Indian view of Music to the western audience. This book is attractive and easy to follow for learners who will find both exercises for rhythm (konnakkol) & melody (swaras) with high quality notations. This book also covers the beauty and details about Veena, one of the oldest traditional instruments. The reference to human body parts, Yoga chakras & Veena, is a good example to show that music and holistic living were a part of ancient India Other publications of CCParis include ‘Children’s Carnatic’ a book series that uses simple story telling with beautiful illustrations, to open a curious window to Indian Music and Dance forms, which are one of the most ancient in the world. This is curated in a fun way to engage you and your child with every read. This series comes in handy for teachers to engage young minds as well.