MFD was first introduced to Jarigan in the 1960s by Jasummudin, the late poet laureate of Bangladesh. At that time, he was writing a book about Jarigan and had asked her help for the western staff music notation. Thirty years later in the 1990s, she was recognized as one of the most knowledgeable scholars of Jarigan and published this book with the support of the Ford Foundation. Her book provides a comprehensive introduction to Jarigan, its origins and its traditions as well as accompanying field recordings of village performers.
This is unbelievable. I have the hardcopy of the book ‘Living in Dhaka,’ that I brought back to Berkeley around 30 years ago. I know that book was gifted to my father, then a Superintendent Engineer at Roads and Highways by a Mr. Pecht, who worked as a consulting engineer for Amman and Whitney at Dhaka.
Great to know you have a copy of Living in Dhaka. It was an ambitious project which I know my mother, Mary Frances Dunham, loved working on.
Incredible history. Can I get a copy of the book ‘Living in Dhaka’ ? I want to write a feature on it in The Daily Star. my email: [email protected]. Currently, I am the in-charge of the In Focus page of The Daily Star. We published an article on MFD ( https://www.thedailystar.net/views/in-focus/news/mary-frances-dunham-memoriam-2905086) in our page.
Best regards
Shamsuddoza Sajen
Sadly I cannot share with you the files for the Ravi Shankar: Learning Indian Music” book without the permission of the Ravi Shankar Foundation. I recommend that you contact them so that they know there is interest in this book and that they should make it available. This is the email for the person I have been in touch with at the foundation: [email protected]. you can also contact the general email: [email protected]. Good Luck! It makes me sad that this wonderful teaching tool is so hard to get access to.