The Music of Hindostan c12.18

c12.18

It is in the grace-note that the unusual intonations, which were once no doubt commoner in the Rāgs than they now are, still survive. A grace seldom consists of the diatonic notes of the Rāg, as is obvious from the description just given. Consequently it is impossible without a very elaborate notation to give a true picture of it. There is the less need to do so since, even if it were faithfully presented, it would be impossible for European throats or fingers to perform it. Still an attempt has been made to hint at it. In the following example the crotchet heads representing the grace are attached to the substantive note by a slur. They are, indeed, placed upon a definite space or line, but must be taken only to suggest the place where the auxiliary notes begin and the sort of course they take. The heads without the tails of the notes are given because the time is variable and entirely at the will of the singer, which is influenced by the context in which they occur; but also in order to remind the reader that they are subordinate in a special sense to the substantive note. They occur after the note as well as before it: