Fundamental of Ancient Indian Music and Dance

Author(s): Sureshchandra Benarji
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 84

Influence of Indian music abroad
Indian: influence on Greece cannot be ruled out. It should be borne in mind that Indian music, dating back to the Rgvedic period, is definitely older than the Greek. In this connexion, it deserves notice that some ancient Greek writers claim that the greater part of their music was borrowed from Asia. Strabo, among others, shares their view. Alexander's biographer, Arrian, knew of the Indians' love of music since early times. Aristotle's description of a lyre reminds one of the Indian ekatantri viņā. Curt Sachs thinks that the South Indian drum tambattam was known in Babylonia by the name of timbutu. According to him, the South Indian Kinnari was King David's Kinnor
The Arab writer, Jahiz, informs us that Indian music was popular in the Abbasid court. He records an Indian musical instrument, called kankalah, containing a string stretched on a pumpkin. It appears to be the kingar made with two gourds. Another source records a book on Indian tunes and melodies. Some technical terms of Arabian music appear to have been borrowed from Persia and India. The Arabic maqam iqa appears to be Persian rendering of Indian melodic rhythmic system. Yehudi Menuhin is certain that some element of Indian music became the mainstay of Arabic music.