Music & Global Cultures

Catalog description

Music & Global Cultures is an exploration of music from around the world drawing from the theoretical and methodological discipline of ethnomusicology. This field has been defined as the study of “people making music” (Titon) or of music “as” culture. Ethnomusicologists seek an understanding of the connections between musical expression and other elements of society. Music can reflect a community’s experience as well as becoming a catalyst for political and social change. In this course you will explore the ways different musics are created, performed, used and passed on to future generations. In class we will hone our listening skills, analyze musical and rhythmic structure, read ethnographic accounts of musical performances, as well as discuss and write about music.