
The Tamil Padam: Bharata Natyam Dance Music Study
Product information for The Tamil Padam: Bharata Natyam Dance Music Study
Explore the rich cultural heritage of South Indian dance music with this comprehensive study of the Bharata Natyam genre known as padam. This meticulously researched book examines the formal structure, texts, and music of padam while uncovering the fascinating history of its patrons, composers, and performance traditions. Gain unique insights into decades-long debates surrounding the classicization and ownership of South Indian music through both historical analysis and examination of padam's organizational structure. Featuring 30 meticulously translated and annotated Tamil language songs with detailed performance history documentation from the 20th century, this resource is invaluable for dance teachers, performers, and scholars. Ethnomusicologists, choreographers, art historians, and dance students will develop deep contextual understanding of Bharata Natyam's evolution and cultural significance. The book serves as both an anthropological study and practical resource, bridging academic research with performance practice. It represents an essential contribution to ethnomusicology, dance ethnography, and world dance studies, offering fresh perspectives on artistic representation and cultural preservation in South Asian performing arts.