Hi, I'm new on these forums. I am interested in Hindustani Classical music.

My question is:

Although it is easy enough to find the ascending and descending Ragas, many things I have read say that after the Alap in the recital a player then moves on to a composition, none of which I am able to find. Does each performer write his/her own composition?

Thanks

Hi Benjamin,

I was about to add a new post about a new book of instrumental compositions when I read your post!
When one has learnt a lot of traditional gatas on ragas, one can also build his owns.
Here is the book I was telling you about:

Hindustani Gata-s Compilation: Instrumental themes in north Indian classical music
(ISBN 9782954124414)

The gatas were collected by Dr Patrick Moutal (doctorate of sitar Banaras Hindu University, Prof. Indian Music at the Paris Conservatoire): they come from late Pt Lalmani Misra, Vilayat Khan, and other artists.
You can read extracts at http://www.moutal.eu
Hope you'll find what you were looking for!