music and culture essay

The Role of Music in Different Cultures: A Look at Ethnomusicology

Music is an integral part of human culture, and it has been used for various purposes throughout history. From religious ceremonies to social gatherings, music plays a significant role in different cultures around the world. Ethnomusicology is the study of music across cultures and seeks to understand how music reflects cultural values and beliefs.

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In this article, we will explore the significance of music in different cultures and take a closer look at ethnomusicology as a discipline. By examining case studies and discussing some of the challenges faced by ethnomusicologists, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of why studying the role of music in different cultures is important.

The Cultural Significance of Music

Music is an important part of cultural expression, and it serves various functions in different cultures. For instance, music is often used in religious ceremonies to create a sense of reverence and spirituality. In some cultures, music is also used to mark significant life events such as weddings or funerals. Beyond that, music can be a crucial component of social gatherings, bringing people together and creating a sense of community.

Moreover, music can reflect cultural values and beliefs. The lyrics of songs, for example, often convey messages about the culture’s history, traditions, and worldview. Some cultures use music to pass down stories from one generation to another, preserving their cultural heritage.

In many ways, the significance of music in different cultures cannot be overstated. It serves as a means of communication between people and helps us connect with our emotions and each other.

The Origins of Ethnomusicology

The history of ethnomusicology can be traced back to the late 19th century, when scholars began collecting so-called “exotic” music from non-Western cultures, without undertaking any related fieldwork.

They would typically obtain these specimens from people returning from the colonies . There was a particular interest in so-called primitive music, which was thought to be representative of a more authentic and primal human nature. Naturally, this approach was fraught with racist and colonialist assumptions.

While this approach yielded a large amount of data, it did not always provide insight into how music was actually used in people’s everyday lives.

The Evolution of Ethnomusicology

In the early 20th century, ethnomusicology began to take on a more scientific approach, with scholars devising new methods for studying music within its cultural context. These methods include fieldwork (immersion in a community to observe music-making first-hand), interviews, document analysis, and musicological analysis (a tool used by ethnomusicologists to understand how music works).

Scholars such as Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel , who were interested in documenting and analyzing non-Western music traditions, began to recognize that music was not only an art form but also a means of communication that reflected cultural values and beliefs. This realization led to a shift from purely descriptive studies to more interpretive approaches that sought to understand the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which music was created and performed.

In the mid-20th century, ethnomusicology became increasingly interdisciplinary. Scholars drew upon methods from linguistics, psychology, sociology , and other disciplines to better understand the role of music in different cultures.

Ethnomusicologists began to focus on issues such as musical change over time, globalization’s impact on traditional music cultures, and the role of gender and politics in shaping musical practices.

The Era of Lady Gaga

Over the years, ethnomusicology has evolved considerably both in terms of its scope and methodology. In the early days of the field, ethnomusicologists tended to focus primarily on so-called “traditional” forms of music such as folk songs and religious ceremonies. However, with the rise of popular music in the 20th century, ethnomusicologists began to take a keen interest in this area as well. Consequently, today’s ethnomusicologists often find themselves just as comfortable studying Lady Gaga as they are traditional Chinese opera.

Similarly, early ethnomusicologists relied heavily on written sources such as sheet music and historical documents in order to understand different musical traditions. However, with the advent of audio and video recording technology, ethnomusicologists are now able to directly observe and study musical practices as they occur in their natural setting. This has resulted in a much more accurate and authentic understanding of musical traditions from all corners of the globe.

Today, ethnomusicology continues to evolve as scholars seek new ways to explore the complex relationships between music and culture. With advances in technology allowing for easier access to diverse musical traditions around the world, there is no doubt that this field will continue to grow and expand our understanding of human expression through sound.

Understanding Ethnomusicology

Ethnomusicology is the study of music in cultural context, and it encompasses a wide range of approaches and methods. Ethnomusicologists seek to understand how music is created, performed, and experienced within different cultures around the world.

One key aspect of ethnomusicology is its focus on musical systems. This refers to the ways in which music is organized, including elements such as melody, rhythm, harmony, and timbre. Ethnomusicologists examine how these elements are used within specific cultural contexts and how they contribute to the overall meaning and function of music.

Another important concept in ethnomusicology is performance practice. This refers to the ways in which music is performed and experienced by musicians and audiences alike. Performance practices can vary widely across cultures, with some traditions emphasizing improvisation and experimentation while others place a greater emphasis on tradition and repetition.

In order to study music across cultures, ethnomusicologists employ a variety of methods including fieldwork, interviews with musicians and audiences, analysis of musical recordings, and observation of live performances. They also draw upon interdisciplinary approaches from fields such as anthropology, linguistics, psychology, and sociology.

Overall, ethnomusicologists strive to gain a deeper understanding of the role that music plays in human culture. By examining musical systems and performance practices across diverse cultures around the world, they hope to shed light on the complex relationships between music, society, history, and identity.

Case Studies in Ethnomusicology

Ethnomusicologists have conducted numerous case studies to better understand the role of music in different cultures. One example is the study of Balinese gamelan, a traditional ensemble consisting of percussion instruments such as metallophones, gongs, and drums. Ethnomusicologists have examined how gamelan music is used in religious ceremonies and social events, as well as how it reflects cultural values such as harmony, balance, and community.

Another example is the study of West African drumming traditions. Ethnomusicologists have explored how these traditions are passed down from generation to generation through oral transmission and apprenticeship. They have also analyzed the complex polyrhythmic structures of West African drumming and how they contribute to dance movements and social interactions.

These case studies reveal that music is deeply intertwined with culture and can reflect important cultural values, beliefs, and practices. They also demonstrate that musical traditions are often closely tied to other aspects of society such as religion, politics, gender roles, and identity. By studying these musical traditions across cultures, ethnomusicologists gain insights into the diversity of human expression through sound.

Furthermore, these case studies highlight the importance of context when interpreting musical meaning. For example, a particular melody or rhythm may have different meanings depending on the situation in which it is performed or heard. Ethnomusicologists strive to understand these nuances by engaging with musicians and audiences within their cultural contexts.

Challenges and Controversies in Ethnomusicology

Like any academic discipline, ethnomusicology has faced criticisms and controversies over the years. One criticism is that the study of music from other cultures can be seen as a form of cultural appropriation. Some argue that ethnomusicologists have historically taken music from other cultures without properly acknowledging or respecting its origins.

Another criticism is that there may be biases in research methods, such as relying too heavily on written documentation instead of engaging with living musical traditions. This approach can lead to a lack of understanding of the cultural context and meaning behind the music being studied.

Ethnomusicologists are working to address these issues by taking a more collaborative approach to research. This includes working closely with musicians and communities to ensure their voices are heard and respected throughout the research process. Ethnomusicologists are also increasingly using methods such as participant observation, which involves immersing oneself in a particular musical tradition and learning from those who practice it.

Additionally, many ethnomusicologists are striving to acknowledge and address issues related to power dynamics in research. This includes recognizing how their own backgrounds and perspectives may shape their interpretations of music from other cultures, as well as ensuring that research findings are shared with the communities being studied in an accessible way.

Overall, while challenges and controversies exist within ethnomusicology, scholars within the field are actively working to address them in order to create more ethical and respectful approaches to studying music across cultures.

In this article, we discussed the field of ethnomusicology and some of the case studies conducted by scholars to better understand music in different cultures. We explored how these studies reveal that music is deeply intertwined with culture and reflects important cultural values and practices. However, we also examined some of the criticisms that have been leveled against ethnomusicology, such as cultural appropriation and biases in research methods.

Despite these challenges, ethnomusicologists are working to address them through more collaborative and respectful research practices. This includes engaging with musicians and communities throughout the research process, using participant observation methods, and recognizing their own backgrounds and perspectives in interpreting musical traditions from other cultures.

Related Terminology:

Musicology : the study of music history, theory, and composition

Performance Studies : the study of music performance and how it is affected by factors such as culture, context, and technology.

Claudine Cassar began her professional journey in business, earning a BSc in Business and Computing from the University of Malta, followed by an MSc in International Marketing from the University of Strathclyde and an MPhil in Innovation from Maastricht Business School. At the age of 23, she founded her first company, which she successfully sold to Deloitte 17 years later.

At 45, Claudine made a bold career shift, returning to university to pursue a degree in Anthropology. Three years later, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Anthropological Sciences. In 2022, she published her debut book, “ The Battle for Sicily’s Soul. “

The Effect of Music on Culture

Introduction, the role of music and culture in people’s lives, how music affects culture, how culture affects music, works cited.

The influence of music on individuals and their lives is unquestionable. Many studies confirm that music regardless of its genre, pace or origin affects human experiences in different ways (Ramadani 248). While listening to a song, a person can undergo a change of mood or find the energy to perform an activity that is too boring to complete in silence. However, although music undoubtedly affects separate individuals, the impact of music on a population as a whole remains unclear. One can argue that music comes from a particular society, thus, it is a part of it. In this case, a specific culture stands above the music and influences it.

On the other hand, it is possible to assume that music can impact society and change its course of history. Therefore, music becomes a separate entity and stands above the cultural phenomenon. Alternatively, culture and music may be interconnected where one can influence another. Although society may include its ideas and concepts into music, the latter can also significantly affect one’s perceptions and thoughts. Moreover, the question of the music genre also contributes to the debate. For instance, classical music and popular music can be different not only in their sound but also in their impact on one’s life. However, the effect of music should not be undermined. Music affects individual lives as much as it impacts culture in general.

One can see the effect that music has on people’s lives in numerous studies about the psychological influence of songs and compositions. For instance, Ramadani notes that traditional music can instill a sense of belonging and patriotism in a person of that nation (249). Here, music is a part of the culture that unites or distinguishes individuals. Brandellero and Janssen continue this thought, stating that one’s musical heritage can be used to commercialize the cultural significance of music, making it an attraction for other persons (225). Thus, it is possible to argue that the cultural aspect of music it what brings one’s attention to it in the first place. Here, the concepts of music and culture are interconnected as one is perceived to be indistinguishable from the other. While this statement is not false, it is also not entirely accurate.

Music can be very different, as the authors note while talking about heritage. Various types of music may cause different effects on ones’ cognition. For example, the notion of popular music does not correspond with such genres as folk or classical music as the scholars state that these genres are “generally less reliant on industry for its production, distribution, and consumption” (Brandellero and Janssen 226). The idea of pop singers that change the way their songs sound so often that some people negatively view this music type in its entirety has a completely different effect on one’s culture. Thus, the impact of music, in general, maybe not as easy to determine as one might think.

The concept of classical music in relation to culture, for example, can be interpreted differently from one person to another. Whale points out that “we talk about the people who attend performances of the symphony as originating from a variety of cultural backgrounds, but we also say that they are engaging in a cultural activity” (27). This description of culture should be taken into account when one talks about its different parts. Here, classical music cannot be considered as a part of one’s culture that can be interpreted correctly by one nation alone. On the contrary, this specific type of music may unite people from different countries and affect their understanding of music, changing their perception of culture. As the author argues, Beethoven’s symphonies are universal in their quality and significance, and Germans, the nation of the composer, can appreciate his creations as much as other individuals from different parts of the world. Therefore, the impact of classical music is not confined by one’s heritage as it spans across nations.

Wang writes that classical music can be considered as a part of the common culture that people share regardless of their heritage (195). Social diversity which affects folk music and makes it unique with specific traditions does not change the way people view classical music as it stays relevant after being recognized as a particular part of history. Therefore, this kind of music stands above the concept of culture as one’s national history. It becomes a driver of human history as the music guides people and their ideas through time. Classical music is not affected by one’s individual tastes as much as it is not under the influence of any nation. Although at the time of their creation, the symphonies of Beethoven most likely followed the customs of his people, now this music itself may influence the way one thinks.

The effects of globalization brought a different perspective on one’s identity as it does not rely on one’s place on the planet anymore. Currently, popular music can come from various corners of the world with a strong emphasis on Western countries. Thus, the impact of these states’ cultures, including their music, is extremely powerful. Popular music that reaches different countries may affect the perception of these people and change the way they choose which songs are good and which are not. In this situation, one song can be influential for a short or a long amount of time, either disappearing without a trace or completely changing the whole industry. The spread of music at the end of the twentieth century can be an example of this phenomenon. Pop music that appeared on the television through music videos allowed people from different places to share interests and tastes. More importantly, it had some negative outcomes as well, as it created a measure of comparison for individuals, affecting the way they view their culture in opposition to the practices of others.

In this case, music becomes one of the determinants of one’s cultural significance. It may affect different art mediums as well. However, for the most part, it impacts one’s view of his or her specific social background. For example, Cohen talks about the historical significance of rock music from Liverpool, which allowed the city to receive a status of the European Capital of Culture in 2008 (577). The history of this music genre shows that one particular band, namely the Beatles, became the primary reason for the city to receive this award. The Beatles was an influencer that changed the history of its hometown as well as the genre of rock music itself. Therefore, the impact of one music band was so enormous that it affected the cultural background of a nation and the structure of a genre. Here, the effect of music on culture is undeniable. This example is not unique, as many artists affected the industry and society with their music before the Liverpool rock band.

While the examples mentioned above show that music can influence one’s culture, it is possible to discuss the arguments that state the opposite. One may say that culture creates and manipulates musical movements in order to represent the flow of history. For instance, the creation of punk music in Europe was a way to rebel against the commonly accepted values, and the music of that period was affected by the political and societal notions of the population. While this argument has a logical foundation, it is necessary to point out that the initial creation of punk music and counterculture as a whole may have been initiated by a political state of the countries. However, the changes that were brought to the genre were most likely the result of certain individuals with unique ideas. As mentioned before, the Beatles turned the industry around and changed the way people viewed rock music. The effect of artists on the counterculture and its development may have been the same.

Another argument may bring up music that is deeply interconnected with one’s cultural background. One may say that this particular genre is influenced by culture as its sound is dictated by the traditions and customs of a certain nation. Moreover, the role of such music in history is often undermined, treating the products of this art type as additions to architecture and illustration. Thus, it is possible to assume that folk music has no influence on one’s culture. However, one should not treat music as if it cannot have any impact on culture development. In fact, while folk music does follow the traditions of a nation, it can also create or modify them. In fact, the concept of music creation is also essential to the development of culture as it affects the way people perceive it. As Hertzman states:

Culture is not marginalized as it once was… The sound should be an important part of our work, but we should take a cue from it… [those] who … are interested not only in sound itself but also in the many different things that go into producing it. Following their lead will help us grapple with music’s ethereal nature without conceiving it as something that simply floats in isolation … disconnected from the broader historical forces that shape it. (256)

The author argues that separating music and treating it as an insignificant part of one’s culture which cannot have any power to change it undermines the role of music in people’s lives. Thus, the place of music in the stories of people is important as it can shape one’s culture and impact it in various ways.

Music plays a prominent role in peoples’ everyday lives and history in general. It can create movements and guide the existing cultures in their development. Different genres of music can affect the world in different ways. Classical music, for instance, lies beyond one culture and unites people with different backgrounds because of its universally established significance. Popular music, on the other side, goes hand in hand with global culture, shaping one’s perception of the current world and affecting the way people compare and contrast themselves with each other. Furthermore, folk music, while being shaped by particular social traditions, has its impact too as it shapes one’s understanding of cultures and allows people to see their history from a new side. All in all, music shapes culture as much as it is formed by it and the two concepts are so interconnected that it can be hard to separate the influences which they have on people.

Brandellero, Amanda, and Susanne Janssen. “Popular Music as Cultural Heritage: Scoping Out the Field of Practice.” International Journal of Heritage Studies , vol. 20, no. 3, 2014, pp. 224-240.

Cohen, Sara. “Musical Memory, Heritage and Local Identity: Remembering the Popular Music Past in a European Capital of Culture.” International Journal of Cultural Policy , vol. 19, no. 5, 2013, pp. 576-594.

Hertzman, Marc A. “Toward and Against a Sounded History.” Hispanic American Historical Review , vol. 96, no.2, 2016, pp. 249-258.

Ramadani, Ilir. “Music, Culture and Identity.” Academic Journal of Business , vol. 3, no. 1, 2017, pp. 248-253.

Wang, Juan. “Classical Music: A Norm of “Common” Culture Embedded in Cultural Consumption and Cultural Diversity.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music , vol. 47, no. 2, 2016, pp. 195-205.

Whale, Mark. “How Universal is Beethoven? Music, Culture, and Democracy.” Philosophy of Music Education Review , vol. 23, no. 1, 2015, pp. 25-47.

Music and Culture Essay

Music plays a pivotal role in both our personal and society lives. Music is an outlet for many people, especially those who may not have the opportunity to express themselves through words or other means. Music also has profound effects on moods and physiological responses. As such, music can be considered one of the most significant forms of human expression and reflects the culture of a society. Music is often shaped by geography and historical context, as well as the current events that are occurring at a certain time in a society.

Music’s future is also an important part of its past and present because it allows for interpretation into how music may be interpreted in the future. Music has been construed to have profound impacts on behavior, language development, cognitive ability, as well as emotion regulation (Kalverboer & Mengaers 2010). Music provides meaning to people’s lives and no other invention throughout history compares with music because there is nothing else that can affect so many people from all walks of life without saying a single word.

Music evokes strong emotions from listeners; therefore one’s choice of music typically reflects their seemingly personal taste. Music is a reflection of the cultures in which it is produced and affects the behavior and everyday lives of its listeners. History: Music has been around since prehistoric times and has been an integral part of many societies throughout history, both in the past and present day. Music was used to help people work, such as when the Nuer lulled their children into sleeping when they were herding cattle (Boer 2004).

Music also helped people to increase camaraderie between individuals because music brought groups together during social gatherings such as weddings or other celebrations (Boer 2004). Music was also used by leaders to make announcements; therefore it became an influential tool for rulers who used music to convey power and authority (Boer 2004). Music was also used in religious ceremonies, such as in the Christian church during the Middle Ages (Boer 2004).

Music has played an integral role throughout history and continues to do so. Music reflects and shapes our emotions and perceptions of everyday life. Music is a reflection of both its time and place as well as the culture that produces it. Culture: Music varies greatly from one society to another, reflecting the different cultures across the world. Music ranges from lullabies sung by parents to their infants or hymns sung by two people for personal pleasure or spiritual enlightenment (Kalverboer & Mengaers 2010).

Music is not just confined to song; music can be translated into dance forms such as ballet or other artistic expressions such as paintings or sculptures (Boer 2004). Music in its different forms has become a powerful part of many cultures because it is often used to express deep sentiments about these societies. Music can be both entertaining, as well as deeply moving to the people who are listening. Music is not only heard during concerts or played in movies; music also fills our daily lives through advertisements, movies, TV shows, video games, and much more.

Music has become omnipresent in our society to the point where we cannot escape its influence if we so wanted to. Music affects us on a subconscious level through television or radio commercials that use songs with particular beats and tempos to get its message across more effectively than words would alone (Kalverboer & Mengaers 2010). Music is a reflection of culture both in the past and present day. The music reflects the values, norms, and beliefs that society holds dear.

Music’s role is not just to entertain or influence behavior; it also acts as a means of communication between individuals, societies, and cultures. Music allows for people to share their deepest emotions despite where they are located in the world. Music has become such an important part of our lives because we carry music around with us everywhere we go in the forms of iPhones, mp3 players like iPods, portable CD players (Boer 2004).

Music can be defined broadly or limited to certain genres or styles that appeal to specific audiences; therefore there is no one definition of music that encompasses it all (Kalverboer & Mengaers 2010). Music is a complex topic that varies among cultures and societies. The music reflects culture by acting as a means of communication, entertainment, and artistic expression for many different groups of people across the world. Music has become such an important part of our lives because it reflects its time and place as well as its culture of origin.

Music is something that everyone enjoys, regardless of geographical location. Music exists in every nation around the world and can be identified by many traits that separate it from the style of music in other countries. Music acts as both a reflection of society and an influence on society depending on which part of the world you are in. Music originates in society through everyday activities, like work. Music is created based on the people’s daily routines.

Music is an essential part of human life and enhances our experiences by incorporating rhythm with other elements to create sound. Music can act as a reflection of how we live in certain regions because it comes from daily routines that are different for every culture. Music also reflects society because music often forms around or accompanies religious beliefs that exist within societies. Music can change throughout history depending on what religion it follows; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism all have their own sets of music styles and genres associated with them.

Music also acts as an influence on society through these religions because many times, humans listen to music to connect with God so they feel closer to the afterlife. Music is a common way for many religions to create a sense of unity and bring people together through their similar feelings toward God. Music also acts as a reflection of society because music varies by region such as Africa, Australia, North America, South America, China and Europe.

Music styles in these areas can be identified by certain unique sounds that all countries use yet each country has its own unique twist on those sounds which makes them different from one another. Music across these regions has developed differently throughout history and still continues to develop today due to the different cultures and beliefs within each region. Music throughout history has been known for influencing societies’ behaviors and actions; often times even inciting wars.

Music influences society today just as much as it did in the past and will continue to across the world. Music can also reflect society because of how people write and perform music that reflects their personal experiences. Music is a way for many artists to express themselves and also allows others around them to experience what they have been through which can create a sense of empathy for other individuals who may be struggling with the same issues at hand. Music has been known to influence societies’ emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, pride, etc.

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A new Harvard study suggests that people around the globe can identify lullabies, dancing songs, and healing songs — regardless of the songs’ cultural origin — after hearing just a 14-second clip.

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Songs in the key of humanity

Peter Reuell

Harvard Staff Writer

Some musical meaning may transcend cultural boundaries and be universally human, study says

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Poet and Harvard Professor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow famously said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” A new Harvard study suggests he may have been right.

The study, a collaboration among psychology research associate Samuel Mehr, human evolutionary biology graduate student Manvir Singh, alumni Luke Glowacki and Hunter York, and Associate Professor of Psychology Max Krasnow, found that people around the globe could identify lullabies, dancing songs, and healing songs — regardless of the songs’ cultural origin — after hearing just a 14-second clip.

The finding suggests that not only is music deeply rooted in human nature, but that some types of songs transcend cultural boundaries. The study is described in a Jan. 25 paper in Current Biology.

“It seems like all humans make music in some way or another,” Mehr said. “But there’s not great empirical evidence for whether or not the different types of music they make share features across cultures. One way to test that is with this type of naïve listener experiment … and the results suggest that, in some cases, the answer is yes.”

The findings are based on a wide-reaching experiment in which 750 online participants in 60 countries listened to brief excerpts of songs collected from nearly 90 small societies around the globe, including hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, and subsistence farmers.

Participants then answered six questions, rating each clip on a six-point scale according to whether they believed the song was used for dancing, soothing a baby, healing illness, or expressing love. Two additional uses — mourning the dead and telling a story — were included as controls.

A data science postdoctoral fellow with the Harvard Data Science Initiative, Mehr said the data showed that — despite participants’ unfamiliarity with the cultures, the random sampling of each song, and the short duration of the samples — people were able to reliably infer the songs’ functions, and their ratings were consistent across the globe.

The findings ran counter to expert expectations.

Mehr, Glowacki and Krasnow had also surveyed academics — including ethnomusicologists, music theorists, performers, composers, psychologists, and cognitive scientists — about whether they believed people would be able to identify the song types.

“We gave them an idealized version of the experiment we ran,” Mehr said. “Imagine you have unlimited time and resources, and the ability to record every song that’s ever been sung from every culture, and could take those and play them for people all over the world.

“The question we asked was, if we play those recordings for people, are they going to be able to tell … this is a lullaby or this is for dancing?” he continued. “Predominantly among ethnomusicologists, the answer was no. And not only that, but they predicted that people’s responses will be inconsistent with one another. That’s not what we found.”

Singh also wanted to know whether listeners were recognizing certain non-musical characteristics of the songs — lullabies are typically sung by one woman, for example, while dancing songs more often involve a group.

“The question then was if people are able to do this, how on earth are they doing it?” Singh said. “How is it that a guy in Tallahassee can recognize a dancing song from a hunter-gatherer tribe from Southeast Asia whose culture he knows nothing about?”

To test that, the team conducted a second study. This time, they asked listeners about a number of contextual and musical features, ranging from the number and gender of the singers to the tempo and melodic complexity of the song.

“From all these, we get a very simple and rudimentary analysis of each song,” Mehr said. “It turns out when you ask people these very simple questions about songs, they agree with each other very highly. Even on really subjective musical features, like melodic complexity, they tend to make consistent ratings with one another.”

When data from the two studies were combined, the results showed that songs of the same function shared similar characteristics — lullabies, for example, tended to be slower and melodically simpler than dance tunes — suggesting that something about musical characteristics crosses cultural boundaries.

“It seems like all humans make music in some way or another. But there’s not great empirical evidence for whether or not the different types of music they make share features across cultures. One way to test that is with this type of naïve listener experiment … and the results suggest that, in some cases, the answer is yes.” Samuel Mehr

Mehr said the researchers were able to draw their wide-reaching conclusions because the songs used in the study were drawn from the discography of the Natural History of Song , a Harvard-based project that creates rigorously constructed databases of ethnographic text about music and audio recordings of music.

“We assembled all of the examples of music in a systematic way, so that inferences drawn from the whole discography are generalizable to humans as opposed to merely the cultures that were studied,” said Mehr, who directs the project with Singh and Glowacki, who is now a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. “This has been a problem in music research in general. The studies that have been pitched as studies of universality in music have typically included only a handful of cultures, or didn’t systematically sample different genres of music in a principled fashion.”

Going forward, the team hopes to conduct more in-depth analysis of the music collected for the Natural History of Song, and do additional studies to improve the inferences about music’s ability to cross cultural boundaries.

“One weakness of this study is that the listeners we’re sampling from are people on the internet, so they all have access to things like YouTube, and they probably are all familiar, say, with Taylor Swift,” Mehr said. “Do the results tell us about the design of the human mind, or do they tell us about what modern listeners hear in the music of the world?”

To address that, the team is working to translate the studies into more than two dozen languages and run online experiments in many more countries. Singh and Glowacki are also working to bring the study into the field by playing song excerpts for members of small-scale societies in Indonesia, Ethiopia, and elsewhere.

“That is the most exciting part,” Mehr said. “Because these are people who have had little exposure to the internet or radio or Western culture. The only music they know is their own music. We’ll find out whether they share the same conceptions of form and function in music with our English-speaking internet users.”

In the end, Mehr said, the study and others like it will enable scientists to form a foundation for answering a number of long-running questions about music and its evolution.

“That’s one of the most important contributions we’d like to make to the field,” he said. “This kind of basic, cross-cultural fact-finding about human behavior is the first step in developing a new science of music.”

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Music’s Role in Culture Essay

Preliminary thesis, statement of interest and progress report, annotated bibliography.

Music is inseparably connected with human society during the whole course of its history. Music is a complex system of transferring feelings, thoughts, and emotions that is changing according to the demands of human society. Being a type of art that expresses feelings, ideas, and emotions, music plays a vital role in the development of human culture and cultural components.

Music is an element of culture that is inseparably connected with the existence of human society. We listen to music in our everyday life and attend musical performances if it is a sphere of our special interest. As a means of expressing feelings and conveying information, music is a transparent system that can be investigated through the analysis of numerous examples (pieces of music). The importance of music, it’s wide-spreading, and the availability of examples do research on “Music in Culture” appealing to me.

Every research begins with an analysis of the literature on the subject. Nowadays, due to the development of information technology, a lot of reliable sources are available online. The online search for information helps to achieve a general understanding of the subject. Locating information online is also helpful for finding books and articles in periodicals. Unfortunately, those books and articles are not available in full, but when writing a thesis, you are ready to go to your university library. My next step was visiting the University online library for the complete versions of books that I have searched. I have found most of the books, articles, and article reviews that I wanted and looked through the multimedia files. Perhaps I can use some music files for conducting a short survey on how different music is perceived. It can also be interesting to investigate what kind of music people prefer to listen at different times of the day, or how people react to music on different days of the week. To undertake this research, I’ll have to learn more about different types of music and different cultures that reveal their customs and traditions via music. I fail to find all the books for my Bibliography, so the search for information is not complete.

Emmerson, Simon, ed. Music, Electronic Media, and Culture . Routledge, 2016.

Music, Electronic Media, and Culture edited by Simon Emmerson is a collection of nine essays devoted to three aspects of the modern music: perception of music, a relationship between electronic music and contemporary culture, and the prospects for electronic music. The author points out that there are many ways to listen to music, but the means of creating music are rather limited. That is why the creative process in the sphere of music is has relied on modern technology.

Laughery, Dan. Music and Youth Culture . 2006.

Music and Youth Culture by Dan Laughey is a book entirely dedicated to the role and functions of music in the youth culture. The author thoroughly investigates “youth” as a concept firmly established in modern society. Laughey views the youth culture historically, structurally, and systematically. Having set the foundation for the research, the author turns to music as an essential part of the youth subculture. The author unveils the processes on production and consumption of music, as well as the role of music in the everyday life of the youth. The book provides useful information on methods and approaches that can be applied to analyzing music.

Belle, Nicky. “Recording Culture: Powwow Music and the Aboriginal Recording Industry.” ARSC Journal 44.2 (2013): 263-265.

Cole, Malcolm. “Context and culture in music education: lessons from the last century.” Australian Journal of Music Education 3 (2015): 59.

GÜVEN, Uğur Zeynep. “How Would You Like Your Alternative Music? New Media and Cultural Capital in Transition.” Global Media Journal: Turkish Edition 6.12 (2016).

Harris, Jo Anne. “The Popular Music and Entertainment Culture of Barbados: Pathways to Digital Culture by Curwen Best.” Caribbean Studies 42.1 (2014): 269-272.

Njoora, Timothy K. “More than just good feelings: advocacy for music among mainstream subjects.” Muziki 12.1 (2015): 23-40.

Saffle, Michael. Music and Culture in America , 1861-1918 . Routledge, 2014.

Wang, Juan. “Classical Music: a Norm of” Common” Culture Embedded in Cultural Consumption and Cultural Diversity.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music (2016): 195-205.

Yoon, Sunny. “Tuning in Sacred: Youth Culture and Contemporary Christian Music.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music (2016): 315-342.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, October 8). Music's Role in Culture. https://ivypanda.com/essays/musics-role-in-culture/

"Music's Role in Culture." IvyPanda , 8 Oct. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/musics-role-in-culture/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Music's Role in Culture'. 8 October.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Music's Role in Culture." October 8, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/musics-role-in-culture/.

1. IvyPanda . "Music's Role in Culture." October 8, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/musics-role-in-culture/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Music's Role in Culture." October 8, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/musics-role-in-culture/.

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