EthnomusicologyEthnomusicologyMUS 364DMUS 364D

Spring 2010Spring 2010

When and whereWhen and where

12-1:5012-1:50 MondayMonday June 6, 2011June 6, 2011

Be on time. Be on time. Listening exam will be first.Listening exam will be first.

What to read, listen to, and viewWhat to read, listen to, and view

1.1. East Asia: China, Taiwan, SingaporeEast Asia: China, Taiwan, Singapore2.2. Australia, New ZealandAustralia, New Zealand3.3. Asia/IndonesiaAsia/Indonesia4.4. Latin AmericaLatin America5.5. The Arab WorldThe Arab World6.6. Discovering and Documenting a World of MusicDiscovering and Documenting a World of Music7.7. Review your notes on all the fieldwork projectsReview your notes on all the fieldwork projects8.8. Listen to all the assigned musical examplesListen to all the assigned musical examples9.9. Read Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11Read Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 1110.10. Review the Powerpoint presentationsReview the Powerpoint presentations

What to listen to on CDsWhat to listen to on CDs

All tracks related to above readingAll tracks related to above reading D 2 21-23D 2 21-23 D3 1-7 and 11-17D3 1-7 and 11-17 D4 1-27D4 1-27 AustraliaAustralia

Songs of the Aborigines and Traditional and traditional music of Songs of the Aborigines and Traditional and traditional music of Papua New Guinea, Cuts 1-28Papua New Guinea, Cuts 1-28

Bushfire: Cuts 1-26Bushfire: Cuts 1-26

What to watch if you missed...What to watch if you missed...

IN HAMERSLY LIBRARYIN HAMERSLY LIBRARY

Jamesie, King of ScratchJamesie, King of Scratch

How to prepareHow to prepare

Work on the material daily between now Work on the material daily between now and the exam. and the exam.

When you begin studying tomorrow, When you begin studying tomorrow, review what you did today.review what you did today.

Take notes in your OWN words.Take notes in your OWN words. Throw away any highlighters you own.Throw away any highlighters you own. Listen to the music in an educated way.Listen to the music in an educated way.

Studying con’tStudying con’t

Work with friends, particularly on the Work with friends, particularly on the listening portion.listening portion.

Eat lots.Eat lots. Sleep lots.Sleep lots. No parties yet.No parties yet.

Music is a universal human Music is a universal human behavior, and all human behavior, and all human

behavior is shaped by the behavior is shaped by the culture to which the musician culture to which the musician belongs. Therefore, music is belongs. Therefore, music is shaped by culture, but then shaped by culture, but then

the culture will be shaped by the culture will be shaped by its music as well.its music as well.

Cultural filtersCultural filters

These influence our perceptionsThese influence our perceptions These filters decide how we accept, reject, These filters decide how we accept, reject,

and color our experiencesand color our experiences Filters may cause us to block out the Filters may cause us to block out the

unfamiliar, or cause an immediate reaction unfamiliar, or cause an immediate reaction of dislikeof dislike

We have to move beyond automatic We have to move beyond automatic responses in an attempt to become responses in an attempt to become educated.educated.

Music is not an isolated artMusic is not an isolated art

It grows from a culture. Music is one It grows from a culture. Music is one channel through which people share channel through which people share cultural experience.cultural experience.

i.e. Witness Nicky Russelli.e. Witness Nicky Russell

Nicky Russell: Voted best performer in the US Virgin Islands 2003 and 2004! Calypso music at its finest!

What is What is culture?culture?

Culture can be defined as Culture can be defined as that set of attitudes, beliefs that set of attitudes, beliefs and values which shape the behavior of a populationand values which shape the behavior of a population. .

Western culture, Asian culture, Arab culture...Western culture, Asian culture, Arab culture... At another level, it can refer to a specific culture, At another level, it can refer to a specific culture,

American, Japanese…or to Western, Southern and American, Japanese…or to Western, Southern and New England American culture, and so on...New England American culture, and so on...

At an even tighter perspective we can see subcultures At an even tighter perspective we can see subcultures such as the police, military, hippies (!?), jazz such as the police, military, hippies (!?), jazz musicians and …musicians and …

Who is Who is America?!America?!

Why do we have culture?Why do we have culture?

At the base, we are all humans faced with the same At the base, we are all humans faced with the same problem: How do we adapt to our environments to problem: How do we adapt to our environments to survive and prosper?survive and prosper?

We have two intertwining environments in which to We have two intertwining environments in which to adapt: Natural and Socialadapt: Natural and Social

Culture allows societies to function by giving us all a Culture allows societies to function by giving us all a set of more-or-less similar operating instructionsset of more-or-less similar operating instructions

These vary over time and space – just ask your These vary over time and space – just ask your parents.parents.

Culture guides us: right from wrong, sane from Culture guides us: right from wrong, sane from insane.insane.

Culture allows us to “do the right thing” to keep Culture allows us to “do the right thing” to keep society functioning, and it allows us to pass on that society functioning, and it allows us to pass on that knowledgeknowledge

HOWEVER, culture alters what we are likely to HOWEVER, culture alters what we are likely to perceive, as well as what we are likely to attend toperceive, as well as what we are likely to attend to

Material CultureMaterial Culture

Instruments of the various culturesInstruments of the various cultures

Clothing around performancesClothing around performances

What we have in common:What we have in common: Biology: we are all human and are trying to fulfill the same Biology: we are all human and are trying to fulfill the same

basic needs. Culture is how we adapt to our basic needs. Culture is how we adapt to our environments.environments.

The ability to learn and communicateThe ability to learn and communicate Language: we all learn in similar ways and communicate Language: we all learn in similar ways and communicate

that knowledgethat knowledge Speech involves the most complex motor control Speech involves the most complex motor control

maneuvers humans carry out.maneuvers humans carry out. The ability to recognize the subtleties of language allows The ability to recognize the subtleties of language allows

us to create and appreciate music us to create and appreciate music Music is universal, but we often appreciate “our” music Music is universal, but we often appreciate “our” music

more, because we have been acculturated to it. more, because we have been acculturated to it. If music is language, what does it express? If music has a If music is language, what does it express? If music has a

function, what is it?function, what is it?

Music has Music has functionsfunctions

To express the inexpressible, without violence: blues, rap, heavy metal, folk, To express the inexpressible, without violence: blues, rap, heavy metal, folk, marches...marches...

To socialize children; Are you proud when you hear the national anthem? It To socialize children; Are you proud when you hear the national anthem? It bonds people to their society and culture (“We shall overcome someday”).bonds people to their society and culture (“We shall overcome someday”).

To educate young and old through performance: teaching poise, confidence, a To educate young and old through performance: teaching poise, confidence, a sense of place, team play, how to take instruction, how to behave, etc.sense of place, team play, how to take instruction, how to behave, etc.

To rally people during crises (Do you hear the people sing?)To rally people during crises (Do you hear the people sing?) It supports religion, encourages mating, coordinates workIt supports religion, encourages mating, coordinates work Sometimes it even entertains.Sometimes it even entertains.

So what does it all mean?So what does it all mean?

Hopefully, you have travelled the path presented Hopefully, you have travelled the path presented in the two quarters of ethnomusicology and have in the two quarters of ethnomusicology and have arrived at this point with a new understanding of arrived at this point with a new understanding of your own place in your own culture.your own place in your own culture.

T.S. Eliot said it best in the Four Quartets.“We T.S. Eliot said it best in the Four Quartets.“We shall not cease from our exploration And at the shall not cease from our exploration And at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” we started and know the place for the first time.” We have made a “raid on the inarticulate”. We have made a “raid on the inarticulate”.

““The only wisdom we can hope to acquireThe only wisdom we can hope to acquireIs the wisdom of humility: humility is endless.”Is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless.”

Thank you for your attendance Thank you for your attendance and participation this quarter.and participation this quarter.

Very special kudos for attendance, being Very special kudos for attendance, being on time and never whining go to….on time and never whining go to….

Bethany!Bethany!

(ZERO absences! ZERO whines!)(ZERO absences! ZERO whines!)

And more special kudos for attendance, And more special kudos for attendance, being on time, never whining, and being a being on time, never whining, and being a

top-notch tribal chief top-notch tribal chief go to….go to….

Aniceto!Aniceto!(one absence, ZERO whines)(one absence, ZERO whines)