Thinking about Thinking about ethnomusicologyethnomusicology To date through this To date through this

discipline…discipline… a) we have looked a) we have looked

at some things that at some things that strike us a strange, strike us a strange, as unfamiliar, and as as unfamiliar, and as unexpected (such unexpected (such as?)as?)

b) we have b) we have experienced some of experienced some of the world’s musics the world’s musics and cultures without and cultures without being judgmentalbeing judgmental

Points of entryPoints of entry

We have found ways to We have found ways to comprehend other comprehend other cultures, identifying cultures, identifying central ideas and central ideas and themesthemes

We have found points of We have found points of entry into other cultures entry into other cultures through the music through the music

We have used music as We have used music as a window into the a window into the cultureculture

We have “practiced” being outsiders.We have “practiced” being outsiders.

As you approach your projects, you As you approach your projects, you will need to look at your own culture, will need to look at your own culture, or a subculture, as a “foreigner”.or a subculture, as a “foreigner”.

You must be an “ethnomusicologist You must be an “ethnomusicologist at home”.at home”.

Now…Now…

Atesh Sonneborn, Atesh Sonneborn, Ph.D.Ph.D. "What grabbed me was "What grabbed me was

the realization that the realization that there were perceptions there were perceptions so different from mine so different from mine -- I wanted to -- I wanted to understand that." understand that." Hooked on world music Hooked on world music since childhood, he has since childhood, he has made it his life. He is made it his life. He is now head of the now head of the Folkways Collection of Folkways Collection of the Smithsonian.the Smithsonian.

Mark Levy, UOMark Levy, UO

He is an He is an accomplished accomplished performer and performer and teacher of Balkan teacher of Balkan folk music, folk music, specializing in the specializing in the gaidagaida (bagpipe), (bagpipe), clarinet, clarinet, zurlazurla (keyless oboe), and (keyless oboe), and other wind other wind instruments. instruments.

Bruno Nettl, Professor Emeritus Bruno Nettl, Professor Emeritus of Ethnomusicologyof Ethnomusicology

““Ethnomusicology has a Ethnomusicology has a significant role in significant role in musical education, as it musical education, as it provides for all students, provides for all students, no matter what their no matter what their professional trajectory, professional trajectory, a view of the musical a view of the musical universe as multi-universe as multi-faceted and diverse, faceted and diverse, and an understanding of and an understanding of music as an aspect of music as an aspect of human culture related human culture related to social, spiritual, and to social, spiritual, and material domains of material domains of culture.” culture.”

Paul BerlinerPaul Berliner

Professor of Ethnomusicology at the John Hope Franklin Center for International and Professor of Ethnomusicology at the John Hope Franklin Center for International and Interdisciplinary Studies, and jointly, the Music Department at Duke University. Interdisciplinary Studies, and jointly, the Music Department at Duke University.

In the fall of 1999, he organized a two-month national American tour for an all-star Zimbabwean mbira ensemble--the first mbira ensemble to be heard in the States--and traveled with the group as performer and tour manager. The tour and the history of the author's mbira music research were the subjects of a March 17, 2000 NPR special on the program 'AfroPop Worldwide'.

Basic assumption for Basic assumption for all projectsall projects Music is a group of sounds…orMusic is a group of sounds…or

””humanely organized sound”humanely organized sound”

Questions to ponderQuestions to ponder

Which subculture will I examine?Which subculture will I examine? At which events does the music At which events does the music

play a part?play a part? Is innovation an important Is innovation an important

component in this music?component in this music? Is the notion of “expert” present?Is the notion of “expert” present? Does the music change frequently?Does the music change frequently?

More factorsMore factors

Does the idea of individualism play a Does the idea of individualism play a part?part?

Is the idea of conformity important?Is the idea of conformity important? Is improvisation a critical Is improvisation a critical

component?component? Does the idea of virtuosity enter into Does the idea of virtuosity enter into

this music?this music? Is it vital to entertain the listener?Is it vital to entertain the listener?

And even moreAnd even more

What is the social context for this What is the social context for this music?music?

Is everyone in the community Is everyone in the community involved in the process of music involved in the process of music making?making?

Are spiritual (not only religious) Are spiritual (not only religious) beliefs vital to the particular beliefs vital to the particular study you have undertaken?study you have undertaken?

Concrete issuesConcrete issues

Who creates the music?Who creates the music? Which instruments are used?Which instruments are used? Is this music in a recital hall?Is this music in a recital hall? Is it on the street?Is it on the street? Is it only in a church?Is it only in a church? Does it matter?Does it matter? Is the PROCESS as important as the Is the PROCESS as important as the

result? (venting hatred)result? (venting hatred)

Musical characteristicsMusical characteristics

What is the role of:What is the role of:– melodymelody– harmonyharmony– rhythmrhythm– repetitionrepetition– call and responsecall and response– texttext– timbre?timbre?– aesthetics?aesthetics?

As an outsider...As an outsider...

Is it hard to gain access to your Is it hard to gain access to your particular music?particular music?

How can you make the most of How can you make the most of your time with your “informants”?your time with your “informants”?

How much should be simple How much should be simple observation?observation?

Should my group know of my Should my group know of my presence?presence?

An example...An example...

Symphony orchestra easy to observe,

unobserved easy access ready body of knowledge

to call on concert hall, perfection individuality not

emphasized one person in charge,

the only one who makes no sound (go figure)

sections have sub-bosses cooperation is critical NO audience

participation

Mennonite church not easy to observe,

unobserved difficult access belief system may be

foreign church, not concert can have solo no one in charge, exactly no sub-bosses want audience

participation again, cooperation is

critical

SyncretismSyncretism

What is it?What is it?

How does it apply to music?How does it apply to music?

DefinitionDefinition

Simply put, this is the belief in Simply put, this is the belief in mixing various schools of thoughtmixing various schools of thought

attempts to merge or assert the attempts to merge or assert the underlying unity of several underlying unity of several originally discrete belief systemsoriginally discrete belief systems

Syncretism is common Syncretism is common in musicin music Particularly for us, this is the Particularly for us, this is the

blending of indigenous musics of blending of indigenous musics of the world with Western influencesthe world with Western influences

Australian aborigines and Christian Australian aborigines and Christian hymn influences (i.e. Maori, Native hymn influences (i.e. Maori, Native Americans show this as well)Americans show this as well)

Which particular aspects of Which particular aspects of syncretism does “my music” syncretism does “my music” demonstrate?demonstrate?

Final thoughts….Final thoughts….

1.1. Decide on a topicDecide on a topic2.2. Prepare for your fieldwork, including media Prepare for your fieldwork, including media

needsneeds1.1. Internet, library, personal contactsInternet, library, personal contacts

3.3. Do the fieldwork itselfDo the fieldwork itself1.1. Interviews Interviews 2.2. recordings (audio, video) recordings (audio, video) 3.3. photographsphotographs

4.4. Analyze what you foundAnalyze what you found5.5. Disseminate your findings (this is the class Disseminate your findings (this is the class

presentation)presentation)