The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c5.10

c5.10

“The more severe of the Mussalman doctors,” writes Captain Willard, one of the few Englishmen who have studied the subject, “like the Puritans, even now prohibit the use of music as irreligious and profane, while others are somewhat indulgent and permit it with certain restrictions. A few, convinced of its excellence, but dreading the censure of casuists, have prudently preferred silence. Some have considered it as exhilarating the spirits, and others, perhaps with more reason, declare it to be an incentive to the bent of the inclination, and, consequently, possessing the property of producing both good and evil.”³