Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This is a comprehensive approach to music from the point of view of anthropology. The author maintains that ethnomusicology, by definition, must not divorce the sound-analysis of music from its cultural context of people thinking, acting, and creating.
Synopsis
In this highly praised and seminal work, Alan Merriam demonstrates that musicis asocial behavior one worthy and available to study through the methods of anthropology. In it, he convincingly arguesthat ethnomusicology, by definition, cannot separatethe sound-analysis of music from its cultural context of people thinking, acting, and creating.
The study begins with a review of the various approaches in ethnomusicology. He then suggests a useful and simple research model: ideas about music lead to behavior related to music and this behavior results in musical sound. He explains many aspects and outcomes of this model, and the methods and techniques he suggestsare useful to anyone doing field work. Further chaptersprovidea cross-cultural round-up of concepts about music, physical and verbal behavior related to music, the role of the musician, and the learning and composing of music.
The Anthropology of Music illuminates much of interest to musicologists but to social scientists in general as well."
About the Author
Alan P. Merriam held the position of Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University. He died in 1980.
Table of Contents
Preface
PART ONE: ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
Chapter I The Study of Ethnomusicology
Chapter II Toward a Theory for Ethnomusicology
Chapter III Method and Technique
PART TWO: CONCEPTS AND BEHAVIOR
Chapter IV Concepts
Chapter V Synesthesia and Intersense Modalities
Chapter VI Physical and Verbal Behavior
Chapter VII Social Behavior: The Musician
Chapter VIII Learning
Chapter IX The Process of Composition
PART THREE: PROBLEMS AND RESULTS
Chapter X The Study of Song Texts
Chapter XI Uses and Functions
Chapter XII Music as Symbolic Behavior
Chapter XIII Aesthetics and the Interrelationship of the Arts
Chapter XIV Music and Culture History
Chapter XV Music and Cultural Dynamics
References Cited
Index