More on this later, but I'm required (or I get) to do a fieldwork research paper/presentation for my World Music class this summer. I've got til tomorrow at 1pm to choose a subject area.
I've got some ideas about what I'd like to study, but it's likely there are some fascinating areas that I'm forgetting. Any ideas? If you had 6 weeks to study any musical form and its cultural significance what would you choose?
Posted by aokie at June 14, 2005 05:01 PM | TrackBackafrican drumming
Posted by: ellen at June 14, 2005 06:26 PMI've always wanted to study the shakuhachi. My favorite Japanese instrument.
Posted by: chris at June 14, 2005 07:38 PMI was thinking African drumming as well. I'd love to know how the drums (and other tribal music) work in conjunction with an oral history for a tribe or people group-- what stories does it tell? Does it help to pass down the tribe's history? What other roles does the music play-- in mating, in leadership, in the structure of the tribe, in religious beliefs?
[Do you wonder if I've been hanging out with Bantu too much?]
does it have to be somewhere else? what about punk? studying it as a cultural phenomenon, i mean. that could be interesting.
and can you compare two totally different kinds of music and the roles they play? that seems like it would be even more interesting.
if you wanted to look at devotional/worship music in other cultures, you could always look at qawwali (what nusrat fateh ali khan, jeff buckley's elvis, sang).
Posted by: amy at June 15, 2005 11:06 AMellen and sarah are right: African drumming (or maybe other ancient african musical traditions) would be interesting, but I think i'd study it with a long view--how did it influence the slave spirituals, black gospel, soul, jazz? Is there a progression there?
Amy is also right, the punk phenomenon and the musicality behind all the angst is intriguing.
feeling shaky on my musical lore, I cannot form my own opinions.
there are ticks all over my body.
Posted by: chotsie at June 15, 2005 12:23 PMsilence.
Posted by: erin at June 15, 2005 03:40 PMThe only world music that matters: Celtic music. You could explore its connection to bluegrass and old timey Applachian music.
Posted by: Craig at June 15, 2005 05:55 PMyou could do latin american/mariachi, and hang out at some latino clubs near you.
Posted by: tom at June 17, 2005 12:46 PMMR. WILLIAM CARR WALLER SHOULD HAVE A BROADWAY SHOW BUILT AROUND HIS MUSIC. JOSEPH PATRICK WARZINSKI, FIDDLER WITH THE GLENN D. BURNIE COUNTRY BAND. AND YOU SHOULD WRITE THE BOOK . YOU CAN REACH WILD BILL AT THE CAROL'S JAMBOREE. IF YOU WANT A SLOT JUST SIGN THE BOARD. JOE
Posted by: TANGERE at June 20, 2005 08:25 PMexplore the similarities between irish jigs and polka music; and then identify their influence on 80's bands.
Posted by: kathyj at June 20, 2005 08:49 PMthe motet.
Posted by: natalie at June 22, 2005 06:22 PM