Introduction to Global Musics (Music 116)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students learn terminology for elements of musical sound, practice close listening strategies, gain knowledge of diverse musical styles and genres, consider culturally specific definitions and meanings of global musical practices.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the term, students successful in this course should be able to:

  • Distinguish between diverse musical genres, styles, and traditions
  • Use accurate music terminology to describe elements of musical sound
  • Report accurate information about geographical, cultural, and social contexts that give rise to musics
  • Discuss culturally-specific definitions of music and meanings of musical practices
  • Gain information literacy skills relevant to sourcing quality information and authoritative scholarly perspectives on global musics
  • Think creatively about how knowledge of global musics will influence one’s life in music

COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction (weeks 1-2)
Defining Music from Global Perspectives
Cultural Study of Music
Elements of Musical Sound
Close Listening Techniques and Strategies

Case Studies of Cultivated “Classical” Musics (weeks 3-6)
Hindustani Raga
Thai Piphat
Indonesian Gamelan
Chinese Qin
Japanese Gagaku
Persian Dastagah
Jaliya Kora Playing

Case Studies of Folk/Folklorized Musics (weeks 7-10)
Bulgarian Womens Choir
Cuban Danzon
Peruvian Sikuri
Mexican-American Mariachi
Arab-Egyptian Takht
Spanish Flamenco

Case Studies of Global Pop (weeks 10-13)
Reggae
Rai
Highlife
Juju
Bhangra
K-Pop

Conclusions (week 14)