The Study of Ancient Music
Cultures
Simply
put, Archaeomusicology is the study
of past music cultures in previous lifeways. In an effort to understand the
past, researchers often focus on population, language, technology, social
structure, texts when available, and ideology, as they are common entities of
nearly every human society. Scholars usually discuss these shared
characteristics in order to understand how a group functioned, but music as a
common element in all societies is rarely discussed.
Archaeomusicology
investigates the socio-music cultures of the past through the study of musical
activity and musical instruments displayed in artifacts, iconographic
depictions, and ancient texts. This discipline provides a unique lens into the
past, while shedding light on how people lived and interacted.
Archaeolomusicology
enriches the understanding of activities that took place in the daily life of
groups in antiquity. The discipline is concerned with interpreting and
explaining music culture and its role in society. Theory and method combine
elements from the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, textual
studies/philology, as well as musicological and ethnographic-comparative
analysis.
Coming
Soon:
Archaeomusicology Newsletter
AN or Archaeomusicology Newsletter
is a new vehicle designed to
convey information and promote scholarly discussion regarding the field of
ancient music studies and related fields. The discipline brings together
diverse areas of study, and seeks to create an atmosphere for congenial
interdiscplinarity dialogue. It is the hope that this newsletter will bring
scholars, researchers, and those interested in the music cultures of past
lifeways together to learn more about the past.
Archaeomusicology Study Group!
Consider joining those discussing ancient music culture,
theory and method on how to study music of the past, and ancient instrument
construction.
Contact
Person for the Archaeomusicology Study Group:
Julia L. J. Sanchez, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
The Costen Institute of
Archaeology at UCLA
A210 Fowler
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1510
Tel: (310)-825-4004
Fax: (310) 206-4723
e-mail: mailto:sanchezj@ucla.edu-
Useful and Interesting
Links Below:
International Council of Traditional Music
For inquiries and
comments, please Dr. Theodore W. Burgh at tburgh2053@aol.com
Additional links:
American Schools of
Oriental Research
American Institute of Archaeology-
American Center of
Oriental Research-
Last revised:
February 2003