Prof. Richard K. Wolf: rwolf@fas.harvard.

edu; Office: 031 Memorial Hall;

Mailbox: front office, Music Building; Office phone: 5-2791
Course meetings: Room 4, Music building; Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 –
11:00 a.m.
Teaching Fellows: Michael Kushell: mkushell@fas.harvard.edu;
INTRODUCTION
This course provides an introduction to the study of music in cross-cultural
perspective. Our inquiry will draw on insights from ethnomusicology, an in-
terdisciplinary field which combines musicology and anthropology. The aim
of this course is to inspire you to think about music in new aesthetic, social,
and cultural ways by examining diverse repertoires in their respective settings.
The course is divided into units organized around three world areas: I. Central
and West Asia, II. South Asia, and III. Sub-Saharan Africa. Each unit will
highlight a specific theme of both local and broader relevance to the study of
music in culture and history. Unit I explores the opposition between nomadic
and sedentary lifeways and the analytical ideal types scholars and others have
drawn from this distinction. Unit II explores what it means for certain musical
genres to be deemed “classical” and “tribal” in the wake of colonial, national and
other historical processes that have prompted local reflections on self and other.
Unit III will focus on ritual and revolution, the ways in which traditional lifeways
serve as symbolic resources for contemporary political struggles. Throughout
the course we will balance attention to social issues with engaged listening to
a variety of musical genres. Performers from the three world areas will visit
our class and you will have opportunities to participate in performing some of
the musical traditions. A special feature of the class this year is the residency
of Sirojiddin Juraev, a virtuoso performer of the two-stringed dutor and other
instruments from Tajikistan. Our weekly schedule will consist of one lecture
by Professor Wolf and two meetings that will comprise some combination of
discussion section, visiting artist, and film viewing.
Grading
Writing, Quizzes and Technical Matters
Projects
Take-Home Essay (Due May 4)
Library research guide
Other resources
Schedule of Meetings
Introduction
Week 1 (1/25, 1/27)
Unit I: Iran and Central Asia: Sedentary and Nomadic Traditions

1
Week 1 (1/29): Introduction
Week 2 (2/1, 2/3, 2/5): Introduction continued
Week 3 (2/8, 2/10, 2/12): The concept of nomadism
Week 4 (2/15 - Holiday President’s day, 2/17, 2/19): The Persianate world
Week 5 (2/22, 2/24, 2/26): Music in the Muslim world
Unit II: South Asia: “Classical” and “Tribal”
Week 6 (2/29, 3/2, 3/4): The music of South Asia: Classical traditions
Week 7 (3/7, 3/9, 3/11): Classical music, continued
March 12-20 Spring Break: Listening guide assignment
Week 8 (3/21, 3/23, 3/25): Complete classical music and begin tribal music
Week 9 (3/28, 3/30): Conclusion of unit II
Unit III: Sub-Saharan Africa: Possession and Politics

Week 9 (4/1): African music: General features

Week 10 (4/4, 4/6, 4/8): African music: The relations among parts
Week 11 (4/11,4/13, 4/15): Music of Zimbabwe in comparative contexts
Week 12: (4/18, 4/20, 4/22): Politics and performance
Week 13: (4/25, 4/27): Conclusion of unit III
*
Monday May 2 10-12 room 4 Student presentations
May 9: Take-home essay due.