Introduction to Musical Treatises

Classical Music and Dance in India has a well-developed theoretical and practical systems right from the beginning of ancient times. Evolution of music in India in all its forms has been a long process spread over many centuries. There have been various books and treatises on music and dance which dealt with all the facets of music and dance. These works are known as "Musical treatises" or "Lakshana Granthas".
These Lakshana Granthas adhere to the principles and guidelines, refers to the history, projects the vision , defines and guides the Music of India. With the continuity and development in music going hand and hand, many forms and formats have adopted suitable guidelines and remained true and long lasting. Musical treatises will help in understanding what way an art is to e established in order to get that aesthetic overview.
There have been references of music from Vedic Times. The History of  Music is divided into three major periods.
a) Ancient Period , b) Medieval Period , c) Modern Period.

The List of Musical Treatises from Ancient Period

SNO.	MUSIC TREATISES	AUTHOR	TIME
1.	Natyashastram	Bharata Muni	2 BC-2 AD
2	Naaradeeya Siksha	Naarada Muni	2 AD
3.	Dattilam	Dattila Muni	1-2 AD
4.	Brihaddeshi	Matanga Muni	6-9 AD
5.	Sangita Makarandam	Naarada muni	7-11 AD
6.	Manollasam	Someshvara	12 AD
7.	Sangeeta Samarasya	Paarsva Deva	12-13 AD
8.	Bharata Bhaashyam	Naanya Deva	12-13 AD
9.	Sangeeta Rathnaakaram	Saarnga Deva	13 AD

The Era of Ancient Music extends from Vedic Period to the age of Sangeeta Rathnakaram i.e 13th Century AD.

The List of Musical Treatises from Medieval Period

10.	Sangeeta Saara	Vidhyaranya Kavi	14 AD
11.	Sangeeta Sudhakara	Haripaala	14 AD
12.	Sangeetopanishadoddhara	Sudhakalasa	14 AD
13.	Sangeeta Raja	Maharaana Kumbha	15 AD
14.	Svaramela Kalanidhi	Raamamathya	16 AD
15.	Sangeeta Darpanam	Chatura Damodara	16 AD
16.	Shadraaga Chandrodaya	Pundarika Vittala	16 AD
17.	Raaga Tarangini	Lochana Kavi	17 AD
18.	Raaga Vibhodha	Somanatha Kavi	17 AD
19.	Sangeeta Sudha	Govinda Deekshitha	17 AD
20.	Chaturdandi Prakaashika	Venkatamakhi	17 AD
21.	Sangeeta Paarijaatha	Ahobala	17 AD
22.	Sangeeta Damodara	Damodara Mishra	17 AD
23.	Raaga Tatva Vibhoda	Srinivasa Kavi	17 AD
24.	Meladhikara Lakshana	Unknown	18 AD

The Medieval Era of Ancient Music begins at 14th Century and extends upto 18th Century. All the Contributions of the Medieval Period are listed above.

                                            Contributions from Modern Era

25.	Sangeeta Saramritha	Tulaja	18 AD
26.	Sangraha Chudamani	Govinda (Acharya)	18 AD
27.	Sangeeta Saara Sangraha	Tiru Venkata Kavi	19 AD
28.	Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini	Subba Raama Deekshitar	20 AD
29.	Sangeeta Kalpadhrumam	Muththaiya Bhagavatar	20 AD
30.	Sangeeta Chandrika	Attoor Krishna Pisharavadi	20 AD

The Modern Era of Music begins from 18th Century and continues till date.

(To be Continued.....)

Next Blog Topic : Bharatha Muni - Natyashastra ; Overview of Upaveda Grantha.