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Book Review
Nov. 24th, 2021 06:41 pmComparative Musicology and Anthropology of Music: Essays on the History of Ethnomusicology
edited by Bruno Nettl and Philip V. Bohlman
This is a pretty specialized volume, as it looks at the history and development of ethnomusicology as a discipline and intellectual pursuit. Since this is a collection of essays by various scholars, it is not systematic or linear in its examination of the subject matter. Nonetheless, is it an interesting look at the history of ethnomusicology and its state in the late 1980s (the book was published in 1991). Thus, while a few of the authors do turn a more critical eye on the state of ethnomusicology, there is little interest in issues of colonialism and decolonization, the effects of western ethnocentrism and white supremacy, othering, or own voices. Even so, there are good discussions of ethnomusicology in India that hint at these issues - those were among the most interesting essays. I also really liked Shelemay's discussion of the relationship between ethnomusicology and recording technology, Wong's essay on contemporary Chinese musicology.
edited by Bruno Nettl and Philip V. Bohlman
This is a pretty specialized volume, as it looks at the history and development of ethnomusicology as a discipline and intellectual pursuit. Since this is a collection of essays by various scholars, it is not systematic or linear in its examination of the subject matter. Nonetheless, is it an interesting look at the history of ethnomusicology and its state in the late 1980s (the book was published in 1991). Thus, while a few of the authors do turn a more critical eye on the state of ethnomusicology, there is little interest in issues of colonialism and decolonization, the effects of western ethnocentrism and white supremacy, othering, or own voices. Even so, there are good discussions of ethnomusicology in India that hint at these issues - those were among the most interesting essays. I also really liked Shelemay's discussion of the relationship between ethnomusicology and recording technology, Wong's essay on contemporary Chinese musicology.
