Description

Risālah dar ʻilm-i mūsīqī (Epistle on the science of music) is a short treatise on the music of India and Persia published in 1906. In his introduction, the author, Muhammad ʻUsman Qays, cites earlier sources, such as Tuḥfat al-Hind (The gift of India) by Mirza Khan (flourished in the 17th century), on this topic. After discussing such basic concepts as lahn (pitch) and iqa’ (rhythm), the author proceeds to trace the historical proliferation of the maqamat (modes) of Persian music. The discussion here is notable, among other things, for the ...