MUSI2661: World Music Traditions

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• This course builds upon the first year's introductory module, providing students with more detailed knowledge of particularly well-documented musical traditions from around the world, exploring the ways in which these traditions are perpetuated, and analysing the musical patterns, concepts and contexts that define them. Knowledge of these traditions will serve as a strong foundation for engaging with the broad range of topics covered by ethnomusicologists. At the same time, through examination of influential case-studies, the module encourages students to critically assess leading ethnomusicologists' diverse methods of research and representation.

• Reflecting the diversity of approaches to music making that exist in the world and highlighting the various roles that music serves in human life, this module explores traditions from a wide variety of cultures, systematically examining selected examples from different geographical locations, including the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. In all cases, students are encouraged to listen and read widely, in order to comprehend the logic within musical structures and identify the complex motivations underlying performance practice, transmission, and modern adaptations. The following are amongst the many forms addressed: Chinese guqin, Japanese shakuhachi music, Brazilian samba, Javanese and Balinese gamelan, Australian didgeridoo, Zimbabwean mbira, and Central African pygmy music. While exploring these diverse traditions, the course introduces the students to some of the most influential case studies in the ethnomusicological canon. The module also interrogates the idea of traditio itself, investigating the ways in which musical traditions are conceptualised across the world, and considering the aims and methods of the ethnomusicologists who have investigated them.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• The module provides the students with knowledge about numerous musical traditions around the world, relating to musical structures, performance contexts, historical and recent adaptations, and modes of transmission and reception. At the same time, students acquire knowledge of the research methods and key findings of influential ethnomusicologists.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Notably, students will learn to evaluate music in its broader context, both as social fact and cultural artefact.

Key Skills:

• To develop informed critical perspectives, to formulate coherent lines of academic enquiry, and enhance key research skills including bibliographic search and critical evaluation of sources.

• Each lecture explores several traditions from a particular part of the world, providing audio-visual examples and exploring cultural history and current significance. Students are encouraged to prepare for forthcoming lectures by listening to recordings and reading around the subject. In their assignments, students pursue chosen themes of personal interest. Practical workshops are also incorporated to help students gain a working knowledge of structures and techniques. One of these is a practical lecture/workshop about Javanese gamelan music.

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