This book has been written at the request of the Editors of The Heritage of India Series ; and although it has grown beyond the possible limits of that Series and is now published by itself, it still remains, as it was originally planned, a brief introduction to a large and intricate subject. We believe that Indian Music possesses so much value for the life of the people of India that like Indian songs, in this great day of national aspiration and progress, it ought to be known and understood by every man and woman who has India's good at heart, so that it may become cultivated in every city and village throughout the land. The purpose of this book, then, is to provide sufficient information to make insight possible ; so that the educated Indian, and also the European, may be stirred to such a living interest in music of India, both vocal and instrumental, as to start musical societies and schools, and to seek for the wider and more detailed information which this book does not attempt to give.