MU 132 Exploring World Music

Overview of Course

Anywhere you go in the world, you will find music. In this course, we will discover how music is a universal human phenomenon that exists in every culture on the planet, but with unique systems, uses, and functions that differ greatly among different cultures and regions. In this course, we will seek to understand the places we visit on the voyage through the cultural expression of music, which offers a unique lens into the social, cultural, political, historical, religious, environmental, and other forces that shape how music is made and the meanings it can embody. We will cover some fundamental principles, giving you a practical foundation and vocabulary for engaging with all the various musics we will encounter across the voyage. From there, we will examine musical context in our ports in order to understand the people who create and listen to music in these places. We will also examine the effects of cross-cultural influence, globalization, and technology on musical development across the globe — what makes these traditions distinct, what they share with one another, and why. Through directed reading, listening, and field assignments, we will cover the core concepts of Ethnomusicology: the study of human cultures through musical practices, the comparative study of music across cultures, and the practical considerations of engaging with music in the field.