Bruno
Nettl: Contemplating Ethnomusicology: What Have We Learned?
This lecture
considers the history of ethnomusicology in German- and English-speaking
countries by contrasting commonalities and changes during the past century. Beginning
with a brief survey of seminal publications of the 1880s, it then takes as a point
of departure a major article by Erich von Hornbostel to discuss developments in
several key areas: the origins of music, the concept of authenticity, the need
for preservation and universals, the role of aesthetic issues, and the question
of relevance regarding the study of the various systems of ideas on music. Important
landmarks in twentieth-century scholarship are enumerated, often illustrated by
events and projects connected to the authorŐs personal experience. The
conclusion suggests that ethnomusicology has made important strides in some areas,
while in others it has returned in circular fashion to its beginnings. This
article was prepared while the author was holding a Mellon Emeritus Followship,
awarded through the University of Illinois, for the study of the history of
ethnomusicology. The author wishes to express his gratitude to the Andrew R.
Mellon Foundation for support of his studies.
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