While Karnatic music, a form of Indian music based on the melodic principle of "raga" and time cycles called "tala," is known today as South India's classical music, its status as "classical" is an early-twentieth-century construct, one that emerged in the crucible of colonial modernity, nationalist ideology, and South Indian regional politics. As Amanda J. Weidman demonstrates, in order for Karnatic music to be considered classical music, it needed to be modeled on Western classical music, with its system of notation, composers, compositions, conservatories, and concerts. At the same time,...

An ethnographic history and critique of the emergence of South Indian carnatic music as a "classical" music in the 20th century.