ME518/618: Exegeting a Musical Culture (4 units)

Jean Ngoya Kidula, Visiting Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology
Spring 2006 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

Develops the introductory essential steps to researching and understanding a musical culture. Includes a survey of world music, the basics of organology, the role of song, the study of song texts, and researching the function and use of music within a particular culture. This course empowers the student to do music ethnography with specific application to Christian witness and worship within varying ministry contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will enable students to

• Research and exegete a people’s music-culture in order to understand varying social contexts.
• Gain a working knowledge of one music-culture unfamiliar to the student by developing methodological skills that contribute to doing music ethnography.
• Learn to analyze and critically reflect upon the intersection between music, mission, and culture.
• Consider the implications for theologizing through a people’s music.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is a two-week intensive that will meet 3 hours each weekday from May 8 to May 19. Class sessions will include presentations with accompanying discussions, video and audio examples, small group participation, and guest lecturers.

REQUIRED READING (VIEWING/LISTENING): If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Begbie, Jeremy S. Theology, Music and Time. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Clayton, Martin, Herbert and Middleton, Eds. The Cultural Study of Music: A Critical Introduction. Routledge, 2003.
Saliers, Don and Emily Saliers. A Song to Sing, A Life to Live. Jossy-Bass, 2005.
Titon, J. (Ed) Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World’s Peoples. Schirmer, 2002. (Book and CDs).

SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REGIONAL MUSIC STUDIES (Required):
Gold, Lisa, Music in Bali. Oxford University Press, 2004.
Olsen, D., ed. & E. Sheehy, Ed. The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music (Book and CD). Garland Publishing, Inc., 2000.
Rice, Timothy. Music in Bulgaria. Oxford University Press, 2003.
Starr, L.& C.Waterman. American Popular Music from Minstrelsy to MTV (Book and CD). Oxford University Press, 2003.
Stone, Ruth M., Music of West Africa, Oxford University Press, 2004.
Viswanathan, T. Music in South India: The Karnatak Concert Tradition and Beyond.. Oxford University Press, 2003.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Agawu, Kofi. Representing African Music: Postcolonial Notes, Queries, Positions. Routledge, 2003.
Hart, Mickey with K. M. Kostyal. Songcatchers: In Search of the World’s Music. National Geographic, 2003.
Howard, Jay R. & John M. Streck. Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music. University Press of Kentucky, 1999.
Miller, Terry and Andrew Shahriari. World Music: a Global Journey Routledge, 2005.
Schechter, John M., General Editor. Music in Latin American Culture: RegionalTraditions. Schirmer Books, 1999.
Taylor, Timothy D. Global Pop: World Music, World Markets. Routledge, 1997.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• READING LOG based on a minimum of 1,200 pages reading from the required and recommended reading list.
• A 1,000-word critical assessment of one chapter from Begbie’s Music, Theology, and Time including implications for studying the musics of non-western peoples (non-anglo/non-classical musics).
• In teams of 2-3 people, students will carry out extensive ethnographical/ exegetical research of one musical culture located in the Southern California area. In addition to the group’s written report (5,000 words), a group oral report will be presented in class (total 90 minutes).
• A 500-word paper of a bio-musical analysis.
• A 1,500-word paper on a non-western music, including a brief ethno-historical analysis of church music in the selected region discussed.
Th.M. Students will complete an additional assignment: 1,250 word paper discussing a substantive addition to or criticism of the lecture material on a theology of music and mission. Topic to be agreed to by the professor.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required course for Global Christian Worship concentration, elective for other students.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: February 13, 2006