Srutis

The first known Indian treatise to describe the octave divided into 22
srutis is the Natyasastra of Bharata. Estimates of its date range from the
5th century BC to the 4th century AD. I tend to trust Jairazbhoy, who
estimates that it comes from the "first few centuries AD." Bharata
discusses two grama, or scale-types: Sa-grama -- 4 3 2 4 4 3 2 -- and
Ma-grama -- 4 3 4 2 4 3 2. He does not discuss their precise tuning.

The first treatise that I know of to introduce the modern concept of 12
pitch levels (svarasthanas) per octave was the Chaturdandi Prakasika of
Venkatamakhi, from the mid-17th century. The reconciliation of these 12 to
the 22 sruti is a controversial issue to the present day.

The first treatises to describe the tuning of the sruti in terms of string
lengths also come from the 17th century and describe just intonation.
However, the idea that sruti should be tuned in JI is by no means
universally accepted in the 20th century. Bhatkande went with 22TET, though
with the qualification that practical music making would deviate from that
ideal. Jairazbhoy argues for the expressive use of temperament, though not
for any particular fixed tuning system. Empirical studies by Jairazbhoy's
student Mark Levy failed to find any consistent preference for a particular
tuning system among Indian vocalists.

Bill

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^ Bill Alves email: alves@hmc.edu ^
^ Harvey Mudd College URL: http://www2.hmc.edu/~alves/ ^
^ 301 E. Twelfth St. (909)607-4170 (office) ^
^ Claremont CA 91711 USA (909)607-7600 (fax) ^
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