Synopses & Reviews
The rulers of the Mughal Empire of India, who reigned from 1526 to 1858, spared no expense as patrons of the arts. They left as their legacy an extraordinarily rich body of commissioned artistic projects, including illustrated manuscripts and paintings that represent music-making in numerous spheres of Mughal court life, particularly that of women. These images form the basis of Bonnie C. Wade's study of how musicians of Hindustan encountered and Indianized music from the Persian cultural sphere.
Combining ethnomusicological and art historical methods with history and lore, Wade focuses first on paintings for Akbar, showing how political and cultural agendas intertwined in the portrayal of his life and that of his grandfather Babur and father, Humayun. Wade then follows the depictions of music-making through paintings for Akbar's successors, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, to trace the gradual synthesis of Persian and Indian culture. Richly illustrated with reproductions of rare Mughal paintings, this work will appeal broadly to anyone interested in Indian history, ethnomusicology, and art history.
Synopsis
Combining ethnomusicological and art historical methods with history and lore, Bonnie C. Wade examines how musicians of Hindustan encountered and Indianized music from the Persian cultural sphere. Exploring the visual sources available in illustrated manuscripts and paintings of the Mughal Empire (1526-1858), Wade focuses first on Akbar, to show how political and cultural agendas intertwined in the portrayal of Mughal court life. Wade then follows the depictions of music-making through paintings for Akbar's successors Jahangir and Shah Jahan to trace the gradual synthesis of Persian and Indian culture. She also provides an explicit and implicit focus on the role of women in Mughal culture and music. Richly illustrated with reproductions of Mughal paintings, this work will appeal broadly to anyone interested in Indian history, art history, and ethnomusicology.
"Wade has the ability to make descriptions of instrumental ensembles and court scenes come to life.... Without a doubt "Imaging Sound" addresses an important interdisciplinary area of ethnomusicology and musicology".--Regula Burckhardt Qureshi
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-264) and indexes.
About the Author
Bonnie Wade earned her B.Mus. from Boston University in 1963, her M.A. in ethnomusicology from UCLA in 1967, and her PhD in ethnomusicology from UCLA in 1971.and#160;She taught at Brown University until 1975, when she moved toand#160;toand#160;the University of California Berkeley, where she isand#160;professor of music.and#160;
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration and Rubric
Note on Dates and Calendars
Abbreviations
Genealogy of the Mughal Family
Maps
Introduction
Pt. 1: The Political Agenda: The Early Mughal Era
Ch. 1: Mughal Exercise of Power in the Creation of Texts: Communication and Political Synthesis
Ch. 2: Music-Making in Mughal Family History and Life
Ch. 3: The Interface of Harem and Court
Pt. 2: The Cultural Agenda: The "Great Mughals," From Akbar to Aurangzeb
Ch. 4: Music in Akbar's Court and Paintings
Ch. 5: Synthesis with a Musical Text
Ch. 6: Transformations: The Indianization of Mughal Musical Culture
App: List of Illustrated Manuscripts and Albums
Notes
Glossary of Musical Instruments and Terms
Bibliography
Index of Illustrations
General Index