Musical Thinking

Catalog description

An ethnomusicological approach to the analysis of musical structures and processes. Case studies include jazz, Irish music, French-Canadian fiddling, North Indian singing, Javanese gamelan, African drumming, and Japanese court music. Topics include linguistic, psychological, and oral-formulaic theories; historical change; cross-cultural modal theory; improvisation; the nature of African rhythm; "insider" versus "outsider" accounts. Readings, discussion, and first-hand experience of selected musics. Facility with Western staff notation required.