Ritual music and hindu rituals of Kerala
Rolf Killius
- 1st ed.
- Delhi BR Rhythms 2006
- viii, 135 p. : color ill. ; 25 cm.
Includes index
This study explores the relationship of the Hindu religious rituals to the percussion dominated music genres in the south Indian state Kerala. It is both, an introduction to the ritual performances and to the musical styles. It takes up the quest to investigate how ritual meaning is expressed through music, it illuminates aesthetic beauty and the relative independent importance of the musical styles within the ritual context. The study investigates how and why the temple music ensembles are dominated by the ubiquitous drums and bronze cymbals and based on a sophisticated rhythm structure rather than on melody.