Book Description

"Music theory's presence in ethnomusicology comes from the socialization and theorizing of participants in the world's musical practices and of ethnomusicologists themselves. Results of processes of theorizing focused on musical activity differ greatly in scope, make-up, and uses. During the 1960s and 70s ethnomusicologists who formed relationships with music-makers and ritual specialists attempted to interpret their understandings of musical actions. Subsequently ethnomusicologists have studied roles of explicit and implicit theory in communication of musical knowledge, with attention to aural learning and relevant techniques of the body. They have observed the production of music theory in institutions of modern nation-states and have sought out groups and individuals whose theorizing is not constrained by projects of existing institutions. They are assessing the ways in which musical terminologies in diverse languages can be related to general concepts without imposing assumptions of one approach to music theory on all others. That exercise is increasingly recognized as a necessary effort of decolonization: the heritage of ethnomusicology encompasses all the world's music-theoretical practices, and no formulation of Western music theory should be used as a standard against which to judge other ways of theorizing and making use of the results. The best future for ethnomusicological engagement with music theory would expand the situations and media of communication along with the topics and viewpoints in play. This book reviews existing work on music theory by ethnomusicologists and others, highlighting potentially productive insights that could inspire and guide future work"--