MUS 239
Introduction to World Music
Telecourse
Ellis Hall Room 226
Instructor: Dr. John Prescott
Office: HHPA 309
Office Hours: M-F 8 AM
Phone: 836-5748
Email: johnprescott@missouristate.edu
Course Web Site: courses.missouristate.edu/johnprescott
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Reading Assignment
for Today
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Chapter 1
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What are the four components of a Music-Culture?
Can you hear and feel the metrical rhythm in the
pieces you are listening to?
Chapter 10

What type of music do YOU want to learn about?
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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MUS 239
Introduction to World Music
Chapter 1: The Music-Culture as a World
of Music
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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What is music?
 Soundscape:
characteristic sounds of
a place
 In general, music is sound that is
humanly organized.
 Sometimes it’s not easy to separate
sound and music.
 Musical Examples I:1, and I:2.
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Patterns in Music
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Rhythm & Meter
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Melody
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Principal tune made of a succession of tones in
particular rhythm
Harmony
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Metrical rhythm: rhythm with recurring accent
pattern
Accompaniment to a melody
Form
 Structural
arrangement of musical ideas
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Harmony/Texture; Four Kinds
Monophonic (distinct single melody)
 Homophonic (single melody with
accompanying harmony)
 Polyphonic (more than one melody)
 Heterophonic (single melody but each
instrument plays it differently)

Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Ways of Looking at Musical
Instruments: Classification

(Sachs-Hornbostel Instrument
Classification)

Idiophone
Membranophone
Chordophone
Aerophone
(Electrophone)
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Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Lines are not always easy to
draw
There are hybrids such as tambourines or
kazoo; distinctions can be fuzzy
 Greater interest now in insider’s words,
context, style.

Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Ways of Looking at the Cultural
Elements that Surround and
Give Meaning to Music
Four Components of a Music
Culture
1. Ideas about music
2. Activities involving music
3. Repertories of music
4. Material culture of music
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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I: Ideas About Music
 Music
and the Belief System
 Aesthetics of Music
 Contexts for Music
 History of Music
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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II: Activities Involving Music

Basic aspects of social
organization
 Status and role
 Other considerations
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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III: Repertories of Music
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Definition: stock of ready
performances
Style; combined elements
Genres
Texts
Composition
Transmission
Movement
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Missouri State University
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•IV: Material Culture of Music


Material objects that a culture
produces, such as
• Musical instruments
• Paintings, documents, art
• Scores, books, sheet music,
books
Impact of mass media
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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General Principles of World
Music

Music-cultures are dynamic rather than static; a
music rarely “dies out.”
 Music used as a controlling force
 Ethnocentrism is generally not a positive
element in the study of world musics
 Use of particular scale forms
 Pentatonic
 12-Tone Chromatic
 Other
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Useful Scales
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Chapter 10
Organizing Principles
1. Family
2. Generation & Gender
3. Leisure
4. Religion
5. Ethnicity
6. Regionalism
7.Nationalism
8. Commercial Music
Introduction to World Music,
Missouri State University
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Research, Documentation & Reporting:
some things to consider
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Gaining Entry
Library & Internet Research
Participation and Observation
Ethics
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Gain permission
Honesty
Field Gear
Interviewing (open questions, not leading)
Sharing the information (Report)
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Missouri State University
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Homework

Assignment No. 1: Write and e-mail me
a one-paragraph Project Proposal, with
description of organizing principles
(from Ch. 10) to be used. Indicate
option 1 or 2, and if option 2, who will be
interviewed.

Read Chapter 2:
North America/Native America
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Missouri State University
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