About the BookMUSICIAN AND ACTIVIST T.M. KRISHNA INVESTIGATES THE HISTORY OF THE MRDANGAM AND MEETS THE INVISIBLE KEEPERS OF A TRADITION THE MRDANGAM MAKERS.The mrdangam is an integral part of the Karnatik stage its primary percussion instrument. Yetstartling as this isthe instrument as we know it is only a century old. T.M. Krishna investigates the history of the mrdangam and meets the invisible keepers of a tradition the mrdangam makers.The making process is an intellectually aesthetically and physically taxing one. From acquiring the skins for the circular membranes and straps to the wood for the drum from curing the material to the final construction and at the end of it all making sure that it has the tone that the mrdangam player wants mrdangammaking is also a highly nuanced operation at every stage.While several artists have been credited with the evolution of the instrument including the stalwart Palghat Mani Iyer none of them had knowledge of a fundamental aspect of the making hide. The quality of the hide and how it is cured cut stretched bound and braided impacts the tone timbre and sound of the instrument. This requires a highly tuned ear and an ability to translate abstract ideas expressed by musicians into the corporeal reality of a mrdangam. Yet their contribution to the art of the mrdangam is dismissed as labour and repairwhen it is spoken of at all.There are legendary mrdangam players yes there are also distinguished mrdangam makers many of them from Dalit Christian communities who remain on the fringes of the Karnatik community.ampnbspSebastian and Sonsampnbspexplores the world of these artists their history lore and lived experience to arrive at a more organic and holistic understanding of the music that the mrdangam makes.About the AuthorThodur Madabusi Krishna is a vocalist in the Karnatik tradition. Uncommon in his rendition of music and original in his interpretation of it he is at once strong and subtle manifestly traditional and stunningly i