The focus in this issue (17-31) is on the practice of many sabhas—in Madras—taking money from dancers (other than the well-known) for giving them performance opportunities. The lead article outlines this practice and prepares you for the reports on discussions and interviews on it with persons prominent in the dance world—a dancer, a dance guru, dance mothers, sabha and trust officials and a couple of dance connoisseurs. The discussions and interviews in Madras were planned and conducted by Editorial Associate Sujatha Vijayaraghavan, who is herself acutely sensitive to the problem since she has two Bharatanatyam-performing daughters. Whether you are an old-timer or a young reader, I think you'll enjoy and value the brief but sensitive profile of T.K. Rangachari by scholar-connoisseur-critic B.V.K. Sastri of Bangalore. Rangachari was a fine musician and an engaging performer. His 75th birth anniversary falls on 3 June—which explains the timing of this article (33-36).

The group of articles on Sadasiva Brahmendra (37-39) is in the nature of a follow-up to the introductory article on music based on bhakti poetry published in the Winter Bumper Issue (SRUTI, 27/28). We were all set to publish a companion article on Swami Haridhos Giri, giving you information on and insight into his endeavours in the field of congregational singing of devotional songs, but we had to defer it to the next issue because of shortage of space. V.A.K. Ranga Rao this time explores the music rendered for dance in the series Dance Is A Many Splendoured Thing, But. . . (41-42) while, in this month's music appreciation notes, S. Rajam and his associates seek to enlighten you on Kharahara-priya raga (43-45).

The News & Notes section (5-14) brings you reports on : a case in which two music scholars and their publisher have been charged with plagiarism and violation of copy-right ; the Khajuraho Dance Festival in Madhya Pradesh ; a futile attempt at blending three dance styles in Delhi; a dance conference-cum-festival and a percussive arts programme in Bangalore ; the forthcoming India Festival in Soviet land ; and the activities of the Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust. Also the result of the MS Contest.

I'd like to draw your attention also to the report on interviews with flautist N. Ramani and vocalist M.A. Narasimhachar (15-16) which follows the jam-packed N & N section. Ramani explains how one enterprising entrepreneur handles programmes of Indian artists touring Australia, while the Karnataka vidwan voices his pessimism about the future of classical Carnatic music.