Course Schedule
Please note: The readings and listening examples are subject to change. Please check the course website regularly.
Week 1
Introduction to the Study of the World’s Music
Mon: Overview of the course: objectives, expectations, class syllabus, class website, student blogs, accessing listening examples, grading system, explanation of short paper and research paper, course materials, sections, upcoming concerts at school, and library reserves.
Weds: Introducing Ethnomusicology and the Fundamentals of Music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 1, pp. 1-30. Brief introduction to the field of ethnomusicology, history of the field, specific “music-cultures,” and broad issues such as identity, nationalism, colonialism, and diaspora. Focus on critical listening and an explanation of musical terminology used in class.
Week 2: Africa
Mon: Sub-Saharan Africa: Ewe, Mande, and Dagbamba
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 3, pp. 73-104.
Weds: Sub-Saharan Africa, cont.: Shona and BaAka, and African Popular Music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 3, pp. 104-114.
Week 3: North America
Mon: Afro/Anglo-American folk music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 4, pp. 123-131.
Weds: The Blues
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 4, pp. 131-153
Week 4: Native Music of the Americas
Mon: Native American Music (North America)
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 2, pp. 35-66.
Weds: Amerindian Music (South America)
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 8, pp. 274-286. And Seeger, Anthony, “What Can We Learn When They Sing? Vocal Genres of the Suya Indians of Central Brazil” Ethnomusicology, Vol. 23, No. 3. (Sep., 1979), pp. 373-394 (available online and on reserve in the Music Library).
Week 5: Latin America
Mon: Chile, Peru, and Mexico
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 8, pp. 266-274 and 290-295. And TBA.
Wed: Afro-Ecuadorian and Afro-Brazilian
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 8, pp. 286-290 and 296-300. And Behague, Gerard, “Afro-Brazilian Traditions” in The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Volume 2: South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (1998), edited by Dale A. Olsen, 340-355. New York: Garland Publishing Inc (available online and on reserve in the Music Library).
Week 6: South Asia
Mon: 1st hour: MIDTERM; 2nd hour: India, Indian classical music
Weds: India, cont., Carnatic Music and Popular Music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 6, pp. 197-225.
Week 7: Middle East
Mon: TBA
READINGS: TBA
Weds: TBA
READING: TBA
Week 8 : Southeast Asia
Mon: Indonesia: Central Java
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 7, pp. 231-249.
Weds: Indonesia: Bali and Popular Music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 7, pp. 249-256.
Week 9: East Asia
Mon: Memorial Day (no class)
Weds: Japan: Traditional and Popular Music
READING: Worlds of Music, Chapter 5, pp. 159-191.
Week 10: Music and Globalization
Mon: Music and Globalization
READING: TBA
Weds: Review for final or TBA