Admission requirements
Participants must have an elementary knowledge of music. The ability to read music is not required.
Description:
As a result of globalisation, migration and the Internet, what is today known as world music has become part of our musical landscape. This is borne out by the hundreds of concerts and festivals that take place every year, and by the impressive sales of CDs and DVDs. In this module, world music will be studied from a practical viewpoint, since music is first of all a practical activity: a question of listening and doing, of repeating and creating. Under the supervision of a number of specialists, students will become familiar with music from different regions, such as Indonesia, India, West Africa, and the Balkans. Students will take part in workshops about Balinese gamelan and raga singing. As well as basic concepts such as rhythm and melody, other subjects to be addressed include modality, composition and improvisation, oral and written traditions, and forms of transmission.
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to apply but also challenge some of the notions about music that are ingrained into Western musical thinking; as well as to make participants aware that in spite of the great diversity of instruments, types of ensembles, genres and styles worldwide, there are also similarities, particularly in the way music is made and reflected on.
Time table:
First term.
Teaching method:
Lectures and workshops
Test method:
Assessment will be made on the basis of:
1. Examination of the assigned literature and information given in the lectures – 10%;
2. Attendance (at least 5 sessions – will be checked by means of an attendance list) – 10%;
3. Homework assignments based on the listening to music examples – 20%;
4. Final exam – 60%
Blackboard
Yes
Required reading:
Compulsory: – Articles, to be disseminated via Blackboard and read in advance to every lecture; – Handouts
Recommended: – Philip V. Bohlman, World Music: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. – Simon Broughton & Mark Ellingham (eds.), The rough guide to world music. London and New York: Rough Guides, 2000. 2 vols – Nicholas Cook, Music: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, reprint 2000.