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XCC 433 B1 : Cross Cultural Exploration of Music

Ethnomusicology? Terminology, labels

Let's pause on that word, ethnomusicology, check terminology and our assumptions. Since we have a library and Google at hand, we'll use both.

(1) Library catalog,  Advanced Search: encyclopedia* music*

"Ethnomusicology" from Grove 1980 (print): " Ethnomusicology is concerned primarily with living music (and musical instruments and dance) of oral tradition, outside the limits of urban European art music.... the music of non-literate peoples (or tribal musics); the orally transmitted music of the high cultures of Asia ... such as in China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia ... Arabic-speaking countries; and folk music...."  

"Ethnomusicology" from Grove 2001 (online):  "The study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."

Observe the change between 1980 and 2001 definitions in Grove.

Speaking of Grove, where might that have been published, where might those writers have trained?

(2) Keep going, maybe find something very current. Is 'Ethnomusicology' a Wikipedia article? Yes. Notice right at the head of that article is a link to the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM). At minimum check SEM's 'About' page. Are they active, established, articulate, driving the discipline?

We see that even in the last 40 years, ethnomusicology's scope continues to expand, assumes inter-disciplinary approaches, prioritizes context.

Librarian

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Holly Mockovak
Contact:
mockovak@bu.edu
Mugar Library, 2nd Floor
617-353-3753
Subjects: Music