A study of music in selected Asian cultures. Although the study will examine both the social context and technical aspects of music in Asian cultures, the program has a broad humanistic perspective and may be studied without musical prerequisites. Within a comparative approach to music of different Asian cultures, there will be a focus upon the relationship of music to religion, dance, literature and rituals within one specific Asian culture. The course will include a systematic, historical and ethnographic survey of the principles of ethnomusicology, its prominent writers and theories. Students also participate in a weekly music workshop which develops their inter-cultural understanding through the experience of playing and singing music from oral cultures.

Listening test (30%); tutorial presentations and paper (30%); and gamelan ensemble (40%).

One hour lecture, one hour tutorial and one hour workshop per week.

Miller, Terry and Shahriari, Andrew.  2006.  World Music.  A Global Journey.  London and New York.  Routledge.  Includes two compact discs containing listening material for the course. 

Supplementary texts:

Miller, Terry and Williams, Sean (eds).  1998.  Garland Encyclopaedia of World Music.  Volume 4.  South East Asia.  London and New York.  Routledge.

Arnold, Alison (ed).  2000.  Garland Encyclopaedia of World Music.  Volume 5.  The Indian Subcontinent.  London and New York.  Routledge.

Provine, Robert, Yoshihiko Tomumaru and Witzeben, J Lawrence (eds).  2002.  Garland Encyclopaedia of World Music.  Volume 7.  East Asia: China, Japan and Korea.  London and New York.  Routledge.

Hast, Dorothea, Cowdery, James R and Scott, Stan.  1999.  Exploring the World of Music.  Kendall Hunt.  Iowa.