An Introduction to South Indian Music by Charlie Mariano

[bobcat]

If someone has read this book, could they let me know what they thought of it? I can't seem to find any reviews of it on the web and the description on the publisher's website (Advance Music) is not very detailed.
Thanks

[bobcat]

Not a soul...

Anyone into improvising on Indian scales, then? I thought this kind of music would sound great on soprano.

[littlemanbighorn]

I've flipped through it and it looks like a really good book. I haven't spent any time with it, though.
Mariano's the man, though, and is more qualified to write a book on South Indian music for jazz musicians than anyone I can think of.

[Robaldo]

Anyone got anything to add to this thread?
I'm toying with getting a copy myself.
Did you buy it, bobcat?

[rim shot]

I own the book- it´s worth having.
sometimes I just pop it open and read some of the compositions-which were originally played on nadaswaram... but work just fine on saxophone.
there are a few exercises on practicing indian scales in different meters, etc., there are short introductions on the raga, tala, indian notation, etc.
The main bulk of the book is the section of "songs" tha charlie learned in india from his nadaswaram teacher- by rote.

The book is intended exactly as it´s title suggests: as an introduction to south indian (carnatic) music. It is not intended as a comprehensive study. It is really a help that he is passing on information that he (as a western musician) learned over many years.
A very interesting, intriguing book- I haven´t seen any other book like this, at all, on the market.

[bobcat]

I finally bought it a couple of weeks ago but so far I've only read the text. Charlie can be pretty funny when writing about his experiences in India. As rim shot says, the book's just intended as an introduction. If you play alto (or even if you don't) you might also want to have a look at this other book, "Indian Melodies" by Candida Connolly:

http://www.schott-music.com/shop/1/show,214254.html

No sign of a Bb version unfortunately.

[Tim Price]

Mariano is my hero....the guy still is playing in his 80s.

GO CHARLIE !!!!!!!!!!!!

[rim shot]

Mariano is my hero....the guy still is playing in his 80s.

and, I might add, he is still burning....

[odsum25]

bobcat, where did you find this book? I've been looking around and no one seems to have it.

Edit: Never mind. I found it in a couple of places online now.

[bobsax]

Tenor player George Brooks is also very involved in Indian music.