One of the chief objectives of the NCPA is to maintain the continuity of the great masters of Indian classical and folk music, dance and drama and to record and preserve the finest performances in these arts which were handed down through oral tradition over generations.
The library’s Listening Room currently contains 5,622 tapes, 1,396 cassettes, and over 120 CDS covering many styles of music and featuring several collector’s items.
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It features an especially extensive collection of 78 rpm records including the music of master musicians such as Bal Gandharva, Zhohra Bai, Janaki Bai, Malka Jan, Gauhar Jan, Sundara Bai, Lakshmi Bai, Pyara Jan, Rasoolan Bai, Pyara Saheb, Roshanara Begum and Angurbala. Most of these have been transferred to cassettes for the convenience of listeners. We also have a valuable collection of Natya Sangeet, Lavni, Bhav Geets Bhajans, Abhang and comic songs, also available on cassette.
Our non-Indian music recordings range from tribal to avant-garde, including the New World Anthology of American Music; Music Canada; a UNESCO collection of ethnic music; African music; modal music and improvisation and music from the Orient.
A number of historic speeches by figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Jawaharlal Nehru can also be heard on record.
