Re: More Droning about Drones...

> was less sure of the dates of introduction
> of this into widespread practice. I would like to also track down
> this book as well.

Presume you're referring to Bonnie C Wade "Music in India: the Classical Traditions"... Check out www.khazana.com. That's where I got my copy. It's in print for $24.

> both of these concerts they were using
> these little electronic Tamboura boxes to supply the drones

Yeah... "electronic sruti boxes". The Ali Akbar school sells 'em; and Khazana might also have them. They're not too expensive. They seem to be used almost exclusively in place of tambura by Carnatic musicians these days. I prefer the live tambura myself, but they're widely popular. (I guess I don't envy the tambura player's job over the course of a 3 hour concert... so I can see why people like these electronic gadgets for that reason alone...)

> I was unable to inspect one up close, but I would like to ask if
> anyone on the list has ever got to see one of these to where you
> might be able to tell me if the intervals of the drones could be
> switched to other pitches?

Yes, I've looked at them but not up close. They come in many varieties, with various continous knobs to set the drone frequencies and invervals within some range. There also exist hand-pumped sruti boxes; check them out at the Ali Akbar school:

http://www.aacm.org/shop/index.html

Cheers,
Rick