Course Description
Summary
In this class, we鈥檒l listen to the classical musical systems of the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, while looking at the basic scales of dastgah, maqam, raga, and pathet. We鈥檒l unpack the concept of mode in cross-cultural perspective, looking at how a simple series of notes can have myriad meanings. Through examining performances, improvisations, venues, historical documents, and associational taxonomies, we鈥檒l build a rich concept of mode through a comparative cultural approach. We will sing, write, and develop our own notational systems for understanding these traditions. No previous musical knowledge is necessary.
