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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: MUS2023 Module Title: WORLD MUSIC
Module Provider: Music and Sound Recording Short Name: MU2.WORLDMUS
Level: HE2 Module Co-ordinator: SCHMIDT PL Dr (Music Record)
Number of credits: 20 Number of ECTS credits: 10
 
Module Availability

Autumn Semester
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
Coursework
50%
Examination
50%
Qualifying Condition(s)
 
Coursework: 50%
  1. Weekly responses to listening/reading assignments on ULearn. You will choose five of these and revise them into a portfolio, worth 25% of final coursework mark.
  2. You may choose from one of the three options: 1) an essay on a topic that must be approved ahead of time, usually chosen from one of the debates in class or elaborating upon a ULearn topic (maximum 2000 words); 2) an ethnographic interview and description, followed by an interview transcription and analysis of the exercise (subject of interview must be pre-approved); or 3) an extended musical analysis of a given piece of ‘world’ music, investigating a particular problem such as transcription/analytical methods or the representation of timbre in Western notation, etc. (25%)
Examination: 50%

One two-hour paper that will include short questions related directly to the module contents. Listening examples will be included. 

Module Overview
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Pass in HE1 Understanding Music 1
Module Aims
  • To provide you with an introduction to the study of ‘world music.’ To examine the term itself and its origins and definitions/connotations.
  • To introduce you to the musical and music-cultural processes and experiences of specific music cultures.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, you should be able to:
  • Critique the main ideological positions relevant to the term ‘world music.’
  • Discuss the cultural and sonic values of the different music cultures discussed in the module.
  • Employ material from different disciplines to comment on key debates, including (but not limited to) music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, music technology, anthropology, and cultural studies.
  • Reflect on the impact such knowledge has on musical practices within your own culture
Module Content
The module content includes :
  • An investigation of the key discourses involved with the term ‘world music’ as both industry category and marker of sonic experience, including authenticity, modernisation, globalisation, and tradition.
  • An introduction to different music cultures from around the world, including East Asia, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. We will also examine crossover styles and music documentaries
  • An exploration of different disciplinary strategies/methodologies, including musical anthropology, ethnomethodology, analysis, etc.
Methods of Teaching/Learning
10 two-hour classes. These will involve a mixture of formal and informal lectures, viewing and discussion of videos, discussion and analysis of music, and seminars based on set readings drawn in part from the required reading list but also from readings on the recommended list. In general, readings are to be prepared in advance of a given class meeting and students will be informed of the readings at the beginning of the semester.
Selected Texts/Journals
Required Reading:
 
Born, Georgina and Dave Hesmondhalgh, eds., 2000. Western Music and Its Others (Berkeley: University of California Press). [excerpts]
 
Nettl, Bruno, 1983: The Study of Ethnomusicology: 29 Issues and Concepts (Urbana and Chicago: Illinois University Press). [excerpts]
 
Taylor, Timothy B., 1997. Global Pop (New York: Routledge). [excerpts]
 
Manuel, Peter, 1988. Popular Musics of the NonWestern World (Oxford: Oxford University Press). [excerpts]
 
Nketia, J.H.Kwabena, 1992. The Music of Africa (London: Vicktor Gollancz Ltd.). [excerpts]
 
Williams, Alastair, 2001. Constructing Musicology (Aldershot: Ashgate), pp. 98-114.
 
Recommended Reading :
 
Born, Georgina and Dave Hesmondhalgh (eds.) 2000: Western Music and its others (California University Press).
 
Fairley, Jan 2001: ‘The “local” and “global” in popular music’ in Simon Frith et al (eds.): The Cambridge Companion to Pop and Rock (Cambridge University Press)
 
Hesmondhalgh, Dave and Keith Negus (eds.) 2003: Popular Music Studies (Routledge)
 
Nettl, Bruno 1983: The study of ethnomusicology; 29 issues and concepts (Illinois University Press)
 
Nellt, Bruno 1985: The Western impact on World Music (Schirmer)
 
Reck, David B. 1977: Music of the whole earth (Scribner’s)
 
Taylor, Timothy B. 1997: Global Pop (Routledge)
 
Davidson, Basil 1992: The black man's burden (James Currey)
 
Hisama, Ellie M. 2000: 'Postcolonialism on the make: the music of John Mellencamp, David Bowie and John Zorn' in Richard Middleton (ed.): Reading pop (Oxford University Press)
 
Manuel, Peter 1988: Popular musics of the nonwestern world (Oxford University Press).
 
Turner, Bryan S. 1994: Orientalism, postmodernism and globalism (Routledge).
 
Arom, Simha 1991: African Polyphony & Polyrhythm (Cambridge University Press).
 
Bebey, Francis 1984: African Music: a People’s Art (Lawrence Hill).
 
Charters, Samuel 1981: The roots of the blues (Quartet).
 
Chernoff, John Miller 1979: African rhythm and African sensibility (Chicago University Press).
 
Collins, John 1985: African pop roots (Foulsham).
 
Ewens, Graeme 1991: Africa O-Ye! (Guinness).
 
Mensah, Atta 1980: ‘Music south of the Sahara’ in Elizabeth May (ed.): Musics of Many Cultures (California University Press).
 
Nketia, J.H.Kwabena 1986: The music of Africa (Gollancz).
 
Stapleton, Chris & Chris May 1989: African All-Stars (Paladin).
 
Evans, David Evans 2002: ‘The development of the blues’ in Allan F. Moore (ed.): The Cambridge Companion to Blues and Gospel Music (Cambridge University Press).
 
Oliver, Paul 1969: The story of the blues (Penguin).
 
Titon, Jeff Todd 1977: Early downhome blues (Illinois University Press).
 
Brocken, Mike 2004: The British folk revival 1944-2002 (Ashgate).
 
Karpeles, Maud 1973: An Introduction to English folk song (Oxford University Press).
 
MacKinnon, Niall 1993: The British folk scene (Open University Press)
 
Lloyd, A.L.1975: Folk Song in England (Paladin)
 
Melhuish, Martin 1998: Celtic Tides (Kingston, Ontario: Quarry).
 
Sawyers, June Skinner 2000: Celtic music: a complete guide (Da Capo).
 
Smyth, Gerry 2002: Review of Sawyers: The complete guide to Celtic music in Popular Music 21/2, 2002, 242-4.
Last Updated

29.11.06