Learning Tabla with Alla Rakha (Book and Videotape ed.: NTSC American video standard) Book

Alla Rakha was the tabla virtuoso best known for his many concert tours and recordings with Ravi Shankar. This book and videotape is Alla Rakha's step-by-step introduction to a single tabla solo in the Punjab style, with its characteristic compositions and manner of striking the drum. Alla Rakha selected the compositions to be included in the book; the finger placement photographs are of Alla Rakha's hands, and the videotape is a recording of Alla Rakha playing, reciting and teaching the compositions. The text features an in-depth analysis of the structure of each composition, with special emphasis on the logic of development in the theme and variation forms. A Special Note about the videotape... Fourteen years after the original publication of the book LEARNING TABLA WITH ALLA RAKHA, the accompanying videotape has finally been released. Harihar Rao narrates as Alla Rakha carefully demonstrates each stroke, phrase and theme from the accompanying book. Next, while Alla Rakha recites each composition to melodic accompaniment, a computer- generated “karaoke” style animation shows the unfolding structure of the composition and the beat of the rhythmic cycle. Finally, with the camera tight on his hands, Alla Rakha plays each composition.Read More