

The position of the current musical system is made obvious by tracing the history of musical theory. Surviving texts detailing musical scales and modes provide a vital procedure of recapturing at least a hint of the music of the past for most historical eras and styles. An historical musical style may be perpetuated in an unbroken oral tradition in rare cases.

Musical references in ancient writings, aesthetic conceptions, and images and textual analyses of musical instruments, on the other hand, can provide clues. In a musical culture where improvisation reigns supreme and written notation is rudimentary at best, the music of previous generations is obliterated. Over the course of several thousand years, Indian music has evolved via complicated interactions between people of various races and cultures.

What Has Changed in Indian Music Over Time?
