Ethnomusicology
Code: 100646Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Musicology | OB | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Rafael Caro Repetto
- Email :
- rafael.caro@uab.cat
Teaching staff (external to UAB)
- Professor a dessignar
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
This course builds on the content of the course Musics and Cultures, as well as the ethnomusicology-related content of Introduction to Musicology. Likewise, the competencies acquired in Musical Language I and II and Musical Analysis are put into practice. A competency in Catalan, Spanish and English is required for reading academic texts and engaging with audiovisual resources in these languages.
Objectives
- Recognise the principles, aims, and methodologies of ethnomusicology
- Identify the main theoretical frameworks, as well as the most relevant scholars in the field
- Understand the most significant and current thematic axes in the discipline
- Analyse musical situations by applying theoretical models and methodological resources from the field
- Define, plan, and carry out a small ethnomusicological research project
- Present and defend original ethnomusicological work, and critically evaluate the work of peers
Learning outcomes
- Use basic vocabularyand tools to describe and transmit knowledge acquired through effective oral presentations of musicological content adapted to the audience.
- Prepare oral presentations on an analytical question and adapt them to the level and expectations of the audience or group.
- Identifying the theories about human species in their relation to society and culture production.
- Identifying the theories concerning the different meanings of the concept of culture.
- Using the basic concepts of Social and Cultural Anthropology for the understanding of relationships between various societies and cultures.
- Interpreting the relationships between different societies and cultures by applying the specific notions of Anthropology.
- Applying the knowledge of cultural variability and its genesis to avoid ethnocentric projections.
- Interpreting the cultural diversity through ethnography.
- Evaluate the main contemporary theoretical concepts and approaches related to ethnomusicology.
- Apple basic working techniques in the field of ethnomusicology.
- Discern basic elements in the main musical and cultural areas in the world and relate them to musical praxis.
- Analse the different possible uses of music both in large cities and in other more distant societies in their customs, language and traditions according to the western model.
- For work and consultations use computer tools specific to ethnomusicology and, in particular, to the Mediterranean area.
- Apply and transmit knowledge acquired to the social demands related to the musics of other cultures.
- Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
Contents
The following are the thematic blocks covered in the course. The sequencing of content by class session will be detailed in the course space on the Virtual Campus.
- The concept of ethnomusicology: main definitions and their critical analysis
- Fieldwork: objectives, methods, and ethical considerations
- Comparative musicology and the origins of ethnomusicology
- Key researchers in the history of the discipline and their theoretical and methodological frameworks
- Main thematic areas of classical ethnomusicology, still relevant today: ritual, gender, identity, social structure, transmission [other areas may be addressed according to the interests of the group and current events]
- Transcription in ethnomusicological work
- The study of movement and dance: ethnochoreology
- Main thematic areas of contemporary ethnomusicology: globalization, the virtual world, decolonization, ecomusicology, applied ethnomusicology [other areas may be addressed according to the interests of the group and current events]
- Ethnomusicological research practice: design, presentation, and critical evaluation of small research projects by students
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures, in-class activities, and assessment activities | 22.5 | 0.9 | 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15 |
| Preparation of materials based on readings | 9 | 0.36 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15 |
| Preparation of the oral presentation | 7 | 0.28 | 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Office hours | 4.5 | 0.18 | 1, 2, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Reading, preparation and study of texts and other materials | 40 | 1.6 | 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 |
| Preparation, conduct, and analysis of fieldwork | 25 | 1 | 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
The learning objectives and outcomes proposed for this course are achieved through the development of both theoretical and practical teaching activities.
Theoretical activities are of three types. First, lectures delivered by the instructor, covering part of the theoretical content of the course. Second, readings of foundational texts aimed at understanding the principles, objectives, and evolution of the discipline, as well as becoming familiar with its most relevant authors and scholars. And finally, supervised activities involving the preparation of materials on selected readings, which serve as the basis for debates and critical analyses of the different thematic axes that define ethnomusicological research.
Practical activities are related to the planning, execution, and presentation of a small ethnomusicological research project. Through this project, supervised by the instructor via office hours, groups of students will put into practice the methods of ethnomusicological fieldwork to study a musical situation chosen by the group. The results of this project are presented both as a written submission to the instructor and as oral presentations in the classroom, where they are discussed with fellow students.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation and submission of the assessable fieldwork materials | 30% | 25 | 1 | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Written test on theoretical content | 30% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15 |
| In-class activities involving material preparation, debate, and critical analysis | 25% | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Oral presentation of the fieldwork results | 15% | 0.5 | 0.02 | 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
Continuous assessment
Assessment activities
Assessment activities are related to the theoretical and practical content of the course. Activities for evaluating theoretical content are individual, and are grouped into the following two categories:
- Participation in in-class activities involving material preparation, debate, and critical analysis, accounting for 25% of the final grade
- Written test on theoretical content, accounting for 30% of the final grade
Assessment activities on practical content are related to a small ethnomusicological research project. These activities are group-based, and are grouped into the following two categories:
- Preparation and submission of materials on the project results, accounting for 30% of the final grade
- Oral presentation of the results in class, accounting for 15% of the final grade
The dates and details of these assessment activities will be published on the course page on the Virtual Campus.
Passing the written test and submitting the materials on the project results are mandatory requirements for passing the course.
Students will obtain a not assessed/not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30 % of the assessment items.
Review
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students through the course page on the Virtual Campus of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
Resit
To be eligible for the resit, students must have completed the written test, submitted the materials on the project results, and delivered the oral presentation. However, only the written test and the materials on the project results are eligible for resit.
Single assessment
Assessment activities
Assessment activities are related to the theoretical and practical content of the course. Activities for evaluating theoretical content are grouped into the following two categories:
- Written test on theoretical content, accounting for 30% of the final grade
- Critical commentary on a selection of texts from the materials covered in class, accounting for 25% of the final grade
Assessment activities on practical content are related to a small ethnomusicological research project, which in this case will be carried out individually, and are grouped into the following two categories:
- Preparation and submission of material on the project results, accounting for 30% of the final grade
- Oral presentation of the results in class, accounting for 15% of the final grade
The dates and details of these assessment activities will be published on the course page on the Virtual Campus.
Passing the written test and submitting the analysis of the musical situation are mandatory requirements for passing the course.
Students will obtain a not assessed/not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30 % of the assessment items.
Review
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students through the course page on the Virtual Campus of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
Resit
To be eligible for the resit, students must have completed all assessment activities. Only the written test and the analysis of a musical situation are eligible for resit.
Irregularities (plagiarism/fraud)
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This subject allows the use of AI technologies as an integral part of the submitted work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection.The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.
Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Exchange students
Exchange students who wish to sit an exam early must submit to the instructor a written document from their home university justifying their request.
Bibliography
Allen, Aaron S., and Jeff Todd Titon, eds. 2023. Sounds, Ecologies, Musics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Barz, Gregory F., and Timothy J. Cooley, eds. 2008. Shadows in the Field: New Perspectives for Fieldwork in Ethnomusicology. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
Becker, Judith. 2004. Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Berger, Harris M., and Ruth M. Stone, eds. 2019. Theory for Ethnomusicology: Histories, Conversations, Insights. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge. [1st ed.: Pearson Education, 2008.]
Blacking, John. 1973. How Musical Is Man? Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Born, Georgina, ed. 2022. Music and Digital Media: A Planetary Anthropology. London: UCL Press.
Buckland, Theresa. 1999. "All Dances Are Ethnic, but Some Are More Ethnic Than Others: Some Observations on Dance Studies and Anthropology." Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research 17 (1): 3–21.
Cámara de Landa, Enrique. 2003. Etnomusicología. Madrid: Instituto Complutense de Ciencias Musicales.
Chávez, Luis, and Russell P. Skelchy. 2019. "Decolonization for Ethnomusicology and Music Studies in Higher Education." Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education 18 (3): 115–143.
Chiantore, Luca, Áurea Domínguez, and Sílvia Martínez. 2016. Escribir sobre música. Valencia: Musikeon Books.
Cook, Nicholas. 1998. Music: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cruces Villalobos, Francisco, ed. 2001. Las culturas musicales: Lecturas de etnomusicología. Madrid: Trotta.
Diamond, Beverley, and Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco, eds. 2021. Transforming Ethnomusicology. Volume I: Methodologies, Institutional Structures, and Policies. New York: Oxford University Press.
Diamond, Beverley, and Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco, eds. 2021. Transforming Ethnomusicology. Volume II: Political, Social, and Ecological Issues. New York: Oxford University Press.
Guest, Ann Hutchinson. 2005. Labanotation: The System of Analyzing and Recording Movement. 4th ed. New York: Routledge.
Hood, Mantle. 1971. The Ethnomusicologist. New York: McGraw-Hill. [New ed.: Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1982.]
Kaeppler, Adrienne L. 2000. "Dance Ethnology and the Anthropology of Dance." Dance Research Journal 32 (1): 116–125.
Koskoff, Ellen, ed. 1987. Women and Music in Cross-Cultural Perspective. New York: Greenwood Press.
Martí, Josep. 1996. "Música y etnicidad: Una introducción a la problemática." Trans – Transcultural Music Review 2.
Martí, Josep. 2000. Más allá del arte: La música como generadora de realidades sociales. Sant Cugat del Vallès: Deriva Editorial.
Mendívil, Julio. 2016. En contra de la música: Herramientas para pensar, comprender y vivir las músicas. Buenos Aires: Gourmet Musical Ediciones.
Merriam, Alan P. 1964. The Anthropology of Music. Evanston: Northwestern University Press.
Myers, Helen, ed. 1992. Ethnomusicology: An Introduction. New York: W. W. Norton.
Nettl, Bruno. 2015. The Study of Ethnomusicology: Thirty-Three Discussions. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. [1st ed.: Twenty-Nine Issues and Concepts, 1983.]
Ochoa Gautier, Ana María. 2024. "The Aural Industrial Extractivist Global Complex." Resonance: The Journal of Sound and Culture 5 (4): 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1525/res.2024.5.4.324.
Pelinski, Ramón. 2000. Invitación a la etnomusicología: Quince fragmentos y un tango. Madrid: Akal.
Rice, Timothy. 1987. "Toward the Remodeling of Ethnomusicology." Ethnomusicology 31 (3): 469–488.
Rice, Timothy. 2014. Ethnomusicology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Seye, Elina, and Kendra Stepputat, eds. 2020. "Choreomusicology I: Corporeality and Social Relations." The World of Music (new series) 9 (1).
Seye, Elina, and Kendra Stepputat, eds. 2020. "Choreomusicology II: Separation and Appropriation in Translocal Contexts." The World of Music (new series) 9 (2).
Shelemay, Kay Kaufman. 2006. Soundscapes: Exploring Music in a Changing World. 2a ed. New York: W. W. Norton.
Small, Christopher. 1998. Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press / University Press of New England.
Titon, Jeff Todd. 2009. "Music and Sustainability: An Ecological Viewpoint." The World of Music 51 (1): 119–137.
Vila, Pablo. 1996. "Identidades narrativas y música: Una primera propuesta teórica para entender sus relaciones." Trans – Transcultural Music Review 2.
Software
No specific software is required for this course. Optionally, the following tools are recommended: MuseScore (https://musescore.org/) for score editing, Sonic Visualiser (https://www.sonicvisualiser.org/) for audio file analysis, Reaper (https://www.reaper.fm/) for audio editing, and DaVinci Resolve (https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) for video editing.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |