TOPIC FOR REVIEW PAPER #1

MUSIC OF OCEANIA

PAPER DUE: Thursday, September 12

Read the first three articles on Oceania in the course reader:

Ellis, Chapter 3

Broughton, “I have a Dreamtime” (optional)

Feld, “Flow Like a Waterfall”

Refer to the model Questions of Ethnomusicology from Week One (posted on website).

Using this model that focuses on SOUND-CONCEPTS-BEHAVIOR, write a brief paper (no more than two pages) explaining some CONCEPTS about music for the Aborigines of South Australia (see Ellis chapter) and the Kaluli of Papua New Guinea (see Feld article, pages 26-30).

The readings should help to answer many questions about conceptions of music:

What is the purpose of singing in these societies? What do songs mean?

What sort of imagery is evoked in song in these societies?

What are the names of styles and how are they used?

What terms exist to describe music? Is there a music theory?

What makes music powerful? What does it reference?

What does music communicate?

Why do people make music?

(you do not have to answer all these questions—this is just to give you some ideas)