Author Question: Summarize some of the conclusions about the people and music of Europe as presented in this chapter. ... (Read 81 times)

magmichele12 · **on:** Jul 25, 2018

Summarize some of the conclusions about the people and music of Europe as presented in this chapter. (Answers may vary.)

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Read the discussion in WOM about CD 1:33 and listen to the recording while following the Close Listening guide. Compare what you hear to the field recording of ganga singing presented earlier in this chapter (CD 1:31). What is the context of CD 1:31? How is the concept of fusion achieved in CD 1:33? Include an explanation of the two types of ganga singing suggested by WOM in your answer.

What will be an ideal response?

prumorgan · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

(A) We find some general tendencies within European musical practices, but there is no single way of being European.

(B) Where musical practices can be seen to extend to significant populations, these common practices tend to be associated with sweeping social and political forces such as the relatively recent institutions of nation-states and the much older influences of religion, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

(C) Among a particular group of people in specific locations we find great diversity of musical practices, even among individuals living in the group.

(D) Even when a performance practice draws on sources from around the world for inspiration, knowledge of the local context is essential for understanding musical practice.

(E) We can learn about the identity of a European people or ethnic group by understanding the music they produce and enjoy. Yet each musician makes choices and performs their identity musically to reference place, religion, and ideologies as they see fit.

Answer to Question 2

CD 1:31 is ganga singing by three girls who grew up together as friends (i.e., rural ganga singing) on Mount Bjelasnica, south of the capital city Sarajevo, in the independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (formerly one of the six republics of Yugoslavia). Three predominant ethnic groups Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croatslive in the relatively pluralistic society of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each group is associated with Muslims, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and Roman Catholicism respectively, but not every member of these ethnic groups actually practices the associated religion.

CD 1:33Zuta Baba is a version of a genre of traditional Bosnian village singing called saljive pjesme (joking songs) that shares some of the musical qualities of gangaclose polyphony (dissonant to many Western listeners), loud, direct singing, and phrases ending in pitches that descend downward (glissando) or a high yelp. However, CD 1:33 was produced in an academic setting (female students from Wesleyan University) in contrast to the rural setting of CD 1:31 where by custom long-time girlfriends sing together until they are married. The academic version is a worldbeat fusion combining traditional elements of ganga singing with a strong rock beat and background.