Andrew Alter is Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of New England, Australia.
'Andrew Alter's fascinating book shows that music in Garhwal is more than just a system of organised sounds. Instead, it underpins a belief that Nada ('a pervading causal sound that animates the universe') can be echoed on earth through the powerful practice of drumming. ... Alter provides closequarter detail on musical practice in both secular and sacred contexts and close scrutiny of the copious musical examples, while a 60-minute companion CD illustrates the text and his revealing analysis to telling effect.' Songlines 'The book's strength lies mainly in richly describing a fragment of an extensive drumming tradition... Alter's work draws attention to the role of percussion not merely as accompaniment, but more importantly as the defining feature of musical events that are critical in religious and life-cycle rituals... In keeping with other books of the SOAS musicology series, this volume is handsomely produced - a hardcover book with a tastefully designed dust jacket, ample photographs and musical notations, a CD.' Asian Ethnology