The Study of Ethnomusicology: Thirty-one Issues and Concepts

528 Pages·2005·3.22 MB·english

by  Bruno Nettl

NEW EDITION
The Study
of
Ethnomusicology
Thirty-One
Issues
and
Concepts
Bruno Nettl
The Study of Ethnomusicology

The Study of
Ethnomusicology
Thirty-one Issues and Concepts
new edition
BRUNO NETTL
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS
Urbana and Chicago
© 1983,2005by the Board ofTrustees
ofthe University ofIllinois
All rights reserved.
First edition published 1983
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
1 2 3 4 5 c p 5 4 3 2 1
∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nettl,Bruno,1930–
The study ofethnomusicology :thirty-one issues and concepts /
Bruno Nettl.— 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
isbn-13:978-0-252-03033-8(cloth :alk.paper)
isbn-10:0-252-03033-8(cloth :alk.paper)
isbn-13:978-0-252-07278-9(paper :alk.paper)
isbn-10:0-252-07278-2(paper :alk.paper)
1.Ethnomusicology.I.Title.
ml3798.n47 2005
780′.89—dc22 2005011181
The University ofIllinois Press
is a founding member ofthe
Association ofAmerican University Presses.
University ofIllinois Press
1325South Oak Street
Champaign,IL 61820-6903
www.press.uillinois.edu
For Wanda

Contents
Preface xi
part 1: The Musicsofthe World
1. The Harmless Drudge:Defining Ethnomusicology 3
2. The Art ofCombining Tones:The Music Concept 16
3. Inspiration and Perspiration:The Creative Process 27
4. The Universal Language:Universals ofMusic 42
5. The Nonuniversal Language:Varieties ofMusic 50
6. Apples and Oranges:Comparative Study 60
7. I Can’t Say a Thing until I’ve Seen the Score:
Transcription 74
8. In the Speech Mode:Contemplating Repertories 92
9. The Most Indefatigable Tourists ofthe World:Tunes and
Their Relationships 113
part 2: In the Field
10. Come Back and See Me Next Tuesday:Essentials of
Fieldwork 133
11. You Will Never Understand This Music:Insiders
and Outsiders 149
12. Hanging on for Dear Life:Archives and Preservation 161
13. I Am the Greatest:Ordinary and Exceptional
Musicians 172
14. You Call That Fieldwork? Redefining the “Field” 184
15. What Do You Think You’re Doing? The Host’s
Perspective 197
part 3: In Human Culture
16. Music and “That Complex Whole”:Music in
Culture 215
17. The Meat-and-Potatoes Book:Musical
Ethnography 232
18. Music Hath Charms:Uses and Functions 244
19. In the Beginning:On the Origins ofMusic 259
20. The Continuity ofChange:On People Changing
Their Music 272
21. Recorded,Printed,Written,Oral:Traditions 291
22. The Basic Unit ofAll Culture and Civilization:Signs
and Symbols 302
23. Location,Location,Location! Interpreting Geographic
Distribution 320
24. The Whys ofMusical Style:Determinants 339
part 4: In AllVarieties
25. I’ve Never Heard a Horse Sing:Musical Taxonomies 357
26. The Creatures ofJubal:Instruments 376
27. How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Teaching
and Learning 388
28. I’m a Stranger Here Myself:Women’s Music,Women
in Music 404
29. Diversity and Difference:Some Minorities 419
30. A New Era:The 1990s and Beyond 431
31. The Shape ofthe Story:Remarks on History 443
References 455
Index 495