Musical Landscape Research Articles

A Review of the International Music Conference Themed “Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being”

The 5th International Conference of Faculty of Music, University of the Visual & Performing Arts 2023 (ICFM-2023) was held in the Faculty of Music premises in Colombo from 22 to 23 November 2023 with the main theme ‘Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being’, brought together an assembly of over a hundred scholars and researchers from India and Sri Lanka and some other countries. The conference featured nineteen sessions delving into various dimensions of the musical landscape with the hope of fostering profound discussions across diverse areas such as music education, pedagogy, musicology, ethnomusicology, performing arts, music and technology, well-being and society, interdisciplinary connections in humanities, social and library sciences, exploring performing arts (including dance, theater and beyond), intangible cultural heritage with a focus on preservation and promotion, and visual art with interdisciplinary expression. Additionally, the program explored theoretical and practical aspects of music and dance therapy. Most participants shared their latest research in person, while some presented online. This conference enriched the knowledge of the participants as well as provided a platform for presenting studies on music and allied subject-related topics. Future music symposia can also introduce a wide variety of sessions to promote and inspire future researchers.

Teaching Resource of Chengdu Popular Music for Fostering Literacy and Cultural Education in China

Chengdu’s popular music, with its profound historical and cultural significance, serves as an educational resource at the intersection of music, literacy, and cultural education. This research aims to propose guidelines for the teaching resource of Chengdu popular music for fostering literacy and cultural education. Located in the culturally diverse Sichuan Province, Chengdu boasts a rich tapestry of musical traditions, from folk to hip-hop, making it an ideal research site. Two key informants, experts in folk and hip-hop music, provide valuable insights into Chengdu’s musical evolution. Data analysis involves thematic analysis of questionnaires and interviews, offering a comprehensive understanding of the city’s music culture. The study reveals Chengdu’s historical role as a cultural crossroads and the evolution of its pop music into a distinctive force within China’s music landscape. Advocating for the integration of Chengdu popular music into educational curricula, this research emphasizes the need for well-structured teaching resources to capture its cultural authenticity. The benefits of cultural education include fostering diversity appreciation, enhancing cultural understanding, promoting literacy skills, cultivating emotional intelligence, strengthening cultural identity, and inspiring creativity and expression. Chengdu popular music offers a transformative approach to fostering cultural literacy, empowering students to thrive in a globalized world.

Transforming Musical Landscapes: Unleashing Creative Potential through Technology in Katutura

Transforming Musical Landscapes: Unleashing Creative Potential through Technology in Katutura

Exploring the Sociocultural Influence of Music Traditions Across Different Cultures

Music, often heralded as the universal language, wields an unparalleled power to bridge gaps, transcend borders, and knit together the mosaic of global cultures. It manifests in a kaleidoscope of forms, each echoing the unique cultural heartbeat of its origin, painting a rich tapestry of human society with its melodious strokes. This paper sets out to explore the enthralling diversity of musical traditions that span the globe, delving into the complex relationship between music, culture, and the fabric of society. From the ethe-real strains of classical Indian ragas, steeped in centuries of spiritual tradition and philosophical depth, to the pulsating beats of African drumming, acting as the vibrant pulse of community life and social gatherings, we uncover the deep-seated influence of music. Music serves not only as a reflection of cultural identity and societal values but also as a pivotal force in shaping them. It mirrors the historical, social, and spiritual narratives of its people, while also acting as a catalyst for social cohesion and identity formation. Through communal singing, dancing, and the shared experience of music-making, it forges strong bonds among individuals, knitting them into a cohesive social fabric. The exploration of music’s varied traditions across the world reveals its role as a cultural lodestar, guiding societies through the currents of time and change. By tracing the intricate interplay of music with cultural and societal dynamics, we gain profound insights into its role as a potent force in shaping the essence of our collective human experience. Music, in its myriad forms, not only entertains but also educates, inspires, and unites, highlighting its indispensable place in the mosaic of human culture. Through this journey across the musical landscapes of the world, we appreciate the universal language of music in all its diversity, understanding its capacity to embody the shared emotions, experiences, and aspirations of humanity.

Metaphorical networks and geographical connotations in the musical landscape of James Joyce’s Ulysses

Cet article examine trois références musicales ponctuant la journée de Bloom : The Rose of Castile de Michael Balfe, Martha de Friedrich von Flotow et The Last Rose of Summer de Thomas Moore, extrait du cinquième volume de ses Irish Melodies. Son but est d’illustrer comment et dans quelle mesure elles sont essentielles à l’économie narrative de l’œuvre : parce qu’elles ont toutes de fortes connotations géographiques, elles impliquent des éléments imaginatifs différents et contrastés qui deviennent étroitement associés à des personnages et à des situations spécifiques culminant avec la trahison de Molly dans l’onzième épisode. Un premier élément remarquable en ce sens est l’association de Molly avec la péninsule espagnole, illustrée par son lien avec la Rose of Castile. Martha joue également un rôle comparable dans le développement et la caractérisation de l’infidélité de Molly. En outre, le contexte colonial d’Ulysse insuffle des significations nouvelles et inattendues à des sujets qui en seraient autrement dépourvus. C’est le cas, par exemple, de la ballade « ‘Twas rank and fame ». The Last Rose of Summer subit également un processus de banalisation et de satire, dirigé contre le revivalisme celtique.

Digital music and critical music literacy

ABSTRACT The Society of Music Analysis report indicated that digital music often sits uncomfortably within a curriculum where the main focus is on the non-digital. This article takes as its starting point a broad definition of digital music as both a type of music and a way that music is represented. It will examine how digital music has altered the music landscape within informal and formal educational settings, and it will explore conflicting notions of music literacy while suggesting that traditional arguments about the value of notation fluency in the digital age may be misdirected. Ultimately, it will propose a definition of ‘critical music literacy’ in which Western standard music notation is not the crucial consideration, with implications for the design of music curricula and for progression.

Report: The global music landscape, the role of record companies, and ongoing innovations in the industry

Report: The global music landscape, the role of record companies, and ongoing innovations in the industry

Narrative observation about music institutionalization through music educational institutions in Kosovo (1948-2020)

The institutionalization of music in Kosovo emerged as a necessary process, playing a pivotal role in fostering sustainable cultural and social development. Its profound effectiveness became evident in the musical trajectory of cultural advancements from the 1950s and 60s onwards. Music schools stood as the primary catalysts, generating a cadre of music professionals involved in various facets of musical productivity. They provided comprehensive professional training to the entire musical community, encompassing composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and pedagogues, who actively contributed to the vibrant musical activities. The year 1948 marked a significant milestone with the establishment of the first music school, initially named ‘Josip Slavenski’ and now known as ‘Lorenc Antoni,’ in Prizren. This was followed by the inception of the music school ‘Stevan Mokranjac,’ later renamed ‘Prenk Jakova,’ in Prishtina in 1949. These institutions served as foundational pillars, laying the groundwork for the subsequent development of a multidimensional music landscape. Notably, the establishment of the Higher Pedagogical School (Branch of Music Education) in 1963 and the Music Academy in 1975 represented crucial milestones, marking the expansion and enrichment of the music sector. The period between 1990 and 1999, characterized by a tumultuous socio-political landscape, posed significant challenges to music education. In the years following 2000, music education in Kosovo continued to adapt and evolve, reflecting to the changing socio-political and cultural landscape. This era witnessed new processes of the established institutional forms and typologies, prompting the adoption of new curricula and a re- evaluation of music education within the context of the evolving social reality and market demands. Furthermore, the demand for music education continued to grow, leading to the establishment of more music schools and programs throughout the country. In general, since 1948, music education in Kosovo represents an unstoppable process that in terms of historical importance, it represents the cornerstone of all professional musical developments in Kosovo.

The South African music landscape and the Copyright Amendment Bill

Abstract In South Africa, the issue of musicians dying as paupers despite their fame relates to a set of factors, including technological developments that affected traditional modes of content distribution and archaic laws, that predates the internet. Relying on CISAC and IFPI reports, this article finds that while physical copies, which were by far the most rewarding mode of music distribution, have become obsolete, current modes of distribution – downloads and streaming – have diminished revenue for the South African musician. This situation is due to free streaming from platforms that enable user-uploaded content, as well as to negligible payouts from streaming platforms in general. Efforts by the legislature to address musicians’ dwindling income are nevertheless contradictory. Looking at sections of the Copyright Amendment Bill and stakeholder submissions thereto, it is clear that the bill diminishes artists’ economic rights through unmitigated exceptions while leaving the safe harbour provisions unaddressed, which pose a further risk to artists’ income.

1세대 아이돌 음악의 전통과 혁신 - 리메이크 사례를 중심으로

The onset of the 21st century marked a developmental phase that illuminated the past culturally with cycles spanning approximately 20 years. Currently, a significant re-exploration of the cultural environment manifested in the 1990s and the early 2000s is underway, with its impact discernible in the K-pop genre of popular music. This study clarified that the phenomenon of 1st generation idol music being remade across the 3rd and 4th generations is not merely imitation but a complex phenomenon shaping new musical landscapes and values. The exploration of 1st generation idol remake music focused intensively on the intertwined cultural continuity and changes between tradition and the modern era. This highlights the inherent differences and possibilities of transformation within repetition, or emphasizing the societal and cultural values of respect bestowed upon idol fandoms. The reinterpretation and recreation of musical traditions established by the 1st generation idols through subsequent generations are expected to address prevalent concerns about the authenticity of K-pop.

Langgam Makassar: the adaptation of keroncong to local music in Makassar

The musical landscape of Makassar features a unique variant of keroncong known as "Langgam Makassar." Faced with limited references to keroncong before Indonesia's independence, musicians in Makassar encountered a dilemma that prompted inventive solutions in the development of keroncong. This led to the emergence of Langgam Makassar as a distinct variant, undergoing a process of adaptation to the local music scene. The research aims to illustrate and explore key aspects of Langgam Makassar, encompassing musicological, historical, and societal dimensions. The methodology employed in this study is an ethnomusicological approach involving direct observation of Langgam Makassar practices and performances. The findings were validated through interviews with Langgam Makassar musicians, recordings, and document analysis. This method offers an understanding of music within its societal context, exploring the reasons why keroncong in Makassar diverges and evolves into Langgam Makassar. The results demonstrate that Langgam Makassar is a product of the creativity of Makassar musicians who, despite limitations, successfully developed keroncong by incorporating elements from local musical traditions such as kelong, parambang, and losquin. These efforts contribute to the distinctive features of Langgam Makassar, establishing it as a novel variant of keroncong.

Harmonizing minds and machines: survey on transformative power of machine learning in music.

This survey explores the symbiotic relationship between Machine Learning (ML) and music, focusing on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the musical sphere. Beginning with a historical contextualization of the intertwined trajectories of music and technology, the paper discusses the progressive use of ML in music analysis and creation. Emphasis is placed on present applications and future potential. A detailed examination of music information retrieval, automatic music transcription, music recommendation, and algorithmic composition presents state-of-the-art algorithms and their respective functionalities. The paper underscores recent advancements, including ML-assisted music production and emotion-driven music generation. The survey concludes with a prospective contemplation of future directions of ML within music, highlighting the ongoing growth, novel applications, and anticipation of deeper integration of ML across musical domains. This comprehensive study asserts the profound potential of ML to revolutionize the musical landscape and encourages further exploration and advancement in this emerging interdisciplinary field.

Transmission of Local and Traditional Music in Indonesian Popular Music (Case Studies of Indonesian Music Groups)

This article explores the dynamic process of transmitting local and traditional music within the context of Indonesian popular music. As Indonesia boasts a rich cultural heritage, the study delves into how traditional musical elements are incorporated and transformed within the works of contemporary Indonesian music groups. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing case studies of prominent Indonesian music groups. Through an in-depth analysis of their compositions, arrangements, and performances, the study aims to unravel how traditional musical influences are transmitted and integrated into the fabric of popular music. The findings reveal diverse strategies Indonesian music groups employ in incorporating local and traditional elements. Case studies showcase the adaptation of traditional instruments, melodic patterns, and rhythmic structures, providing insight into how cultural heritage is woven into the contemporary musical landscape. The discussion section engages with the implications of this transmission process, addressing questions of cultural identity, artistic innovation, and audience reception. It explores how the synthesis of traditional and popular music contributes to the evolution of Indonesia's musical identity and its resonance within a global context. In conclusion, this article illuminates the multifaceted nature of the transmission of local and traditional music in Indonesian popular music. The case studies provide a lens to understand the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation, shedding light on the creative processes that shape the country's musical tapestry. This study contributes to the broader discourse on the global dynamics of music transmission and the significance of cultural heritage in contemporary musical expressions.

Radiguian Explorations

ABSTRACT In this text, I explore aspects of Éliane Radigue’s electronic works. Based on long standing exchanges and collaboration with Radigue herself, and 20 years of experience and involvement in the field of musique concrète, I aim to share a personal and problematized look at Radigue’s unique approach. I will first examine the traditional musique concrète techniques that Radigue learned from Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry, her own idiosyncratic explorations of these techniques and finally the extension of these techniques as carried out on her ARP 2500 synthesizer. I will then trace how this evolution emerged from Radigue’s formative listening experiences—experiences, which led her to pursue a phenomenological approach, directed towards the listening to sounds rather than a structuralist one directed towards the apparition of sounds. This countercurrent approach can help illuminate the unique position Radigue took, and is still taking, in the electronic-experimental music landscape.

Биографический миф о Гайдне в интерпретации Стендаля и Жорж Санд

The article deals with the peculiarities of the interpretation of the Haydn myth in the French literature of the Romantic era ‒ Stendhal’s essay “Vies de Haydn, Mozart et Metastase”, 1814 and George Sand’s novel “Consuelo”, 1843. It is shown how the invariant of the biographical myth is adjusted ac-cording to individual creative attitudes and existing cultural and artistic stereotypes. Stendhal, remaining within the established biographical invariant, emphasizes Haydn’s ingenuity and tenacity, discipline, natural optimism and devotion to his work. He sees in Haydn’s melodicism a manifestation of talent, free from the restrictive rules of counterpoint. At the same time, the life story of the composer is an opportunity not only to express his idea of music as the most unformal form of art, but also to try on the fate of the artist-creator. George Sand’s Haydn is shown as the incarnation of the exemplary ideas of genius and in this sense is opposed to the protagonist – Consuelo. Like Stendhal, the writer actualizes those dominants of the biographical image which are concordant with her ideas of a creative personality. The novelistic Haydn is laborious, determined, unpretentious, good-hearted and fully devoted to music. These are the qualities that serve to ensure the artist’s inner free-dom. However, despite all the differences in creative strategies, both Stendhal and George Sand proceed from the biographical myth of Haydn which is rooted in the European cultural tradition and is based on the key seme “Papa Haydn” that conceptually determines the composer’s creative manner, character, lifestyle and way of social interaction, as well as his place in the musical landscape of the time.

Modeling the local geography of country music concerts in U.S. urban areas: insights from big data analysis of live music events

Music cities leverage live music as a tool for urban revitalization. Identifying influential industries in U.S. urban areas that have shaped the country music landscape can provide valuable insights into the role of the music industry in urban development. The ‘big data’ of country music concerts obtained from Spotify were examined to discern the relative importance of food and transportation services in explaining the spatial distribution of country music concerts from 2009 to 2019. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analyses show that both food and transportation services have a positive relationship with country music concerts. The analysis also reveals that the majority of country music concerts occurred in urbanized areas. Although country music has successfully spread throughout the entire country, there are distinctive regional clusters in large cities such as Nashville, Dallas, New York City, and Austin. The result also indicates the strength of GWR in improving and sustaining the explanatory power of models. The GWR was implemented to execute four models separately considering different explanatory variables and a comparative analysis of the model performance then suggested that food service appears to perform best, whilst bus service performs better than train service and air service. These findings highlight the roles of food and transportation service facilities that have made country music — a form of Southern culture visible in the urban landscape. This study encourages music cities to harness the potential of big data's power to foster vibrant industrial ecosystems in urban environments.

Exploring the Congruence Level of Music and Product Category. A Content Analysis on Global Musical Ads

The race to capture consumers’ attention has rapidly increased in the past years. Besides the importance of the channels, the elements composing an ad are as crucial as ever in promoting compelling messages relevant to the target group. Music is one of the mechanisms through which the interest of consumers can be aroused while enhancing the advertising message and giving it more nuance. There have been several attempts to understand advertising music better, but most of the works focus on individual dimensions. There is a need to understand advertising music choices more coherently and complexly. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive instrument of several items that help understand musical congruency within an ad. The paper provides a content analysis of 95 global musical ads for 2019-2022. The primary product/ service categories are reviewed, and the dimensions used in the analysis present the essential aspects of musical congruency, underlining the importance of original music composed for the ads, the capacity to adapt to various music sources, and giving additional importance to elements such as pitch, dynamics, and tempo. The paper offers a bigger picture of the musical landscape in advertising and interweaves music knowledge and elements with advertising purposes.

Théâtre du Soleil and the Music of Jean-Jacques Lemêtre

"The contemporary performative scene is defined by the interaction of the means of artistic expression, which determines a permanent renewal of the scenic language. This article discusses the multiple stage practices that animate performances in theater and music, in their complementarity or dynamic confrontation. These interactions are presented here from the perspective of the specific musical work of Jean-Jacques Lemêtre, who facilitated a voice and movement rhythm workshop at the Faculty of Theater and Film within Babeș-Bolyai University, in March 2023. Unique figure in the theatrical musical landscape, he has been the musician, composer, luthier, and interpreter of the sound universe of Théâtre du Soleil performances for more than forty years. This work aims to demonstrate that music for theater is a special genre born through the process of organic integration of the theatricality of the stage, by assuming the risk of being contaminated by the impurity generated by the actors' bodies that emit their own sound universe. Music for theater is enriched and energized by these experiences born from the osmosis of sound - enhanced image into organic and fruitful connections. Keywords: music, theater, instruments, training, technique"

Discurso feminista e identidad americana en la danza moderna: Martha Graham y el significado social del cuerpo femenino

. Este artículo reflexiona acerca de los conceptos del discurso feminista y de la identidad americana en el contexto de la significación social del cuerpo danzante tal y como está representado en las coreografías de la bailarina americana Martha Graham. Aquí abordamos el impacto de las obras revolucionarias Heretic (1929) Lamentation (1930), Primitive Mysteries (1931), Frontier (1935), Letter to the World (1940) y Appalachian Spring (1944), explorando su significado social con referencia a la demarcación de la masculinidad y de la feminidad en la visión de danza de Graham. La iconografía visual, las partituras extraordinarias y la atmósfera sensorial creada por y para estas coreografías seminales son experiencias únicas de una danza artística específica que construye el discurso feminista. La contribución de Martha Graham a la formación de la danza moderna y sus característicos movimientos de ‘contract and release’ que forman la Graham Technique, en la que la energía se localiza en el centro del cuerpo, está saturada de emoción humana. El discurso feminista incorporado en estas coreografías habla del amor y de la muerte, de la opresión y de la libertad, de las limitaciones del género y de la lucha por identidad. Su contribución iluminadora a la danza contemporánea se basó en sus frases de movimiento corporal únicas y en su cuestionamiento sin concesiones de los cuerpos construidos socialmente. Martha Graham creó un nuevo vocabulario de movimiento que revolucionó la danza y se configuró debido al ‘cultural embodiment, cultural communication and the whole shift in the Western lifeworld at the beginning of the twentieth century’ . Palabras clave. Martha Graham, Graham Technique, danza moderna, significado social, discurso feminista, cuerpo femenino, grupos sociales, identidad americana, paisaje musical, cuerpo danzante femenino.

Busking in the neo-liberal city: A critical inventory of a selection of street art ordinances in Austria

The conditions under which buskers pursue their art have never been easy, but their situation has become even more complicated recently, as public spaces worldwide have been transformed under rampant neo-liberal conditions. Street music today often takes place against the backdrop of globally oriented urban planning, which is frequently shaped by neo-liberal considerations that ascribe specific qualities and functions to public outdoor places and spaces. By subjecting these spaces, which remain central for street music activities even in the digital age, to increasing official control and regulation, street musicians are often exposed to a regulatory frenzy – enacted by local politics and executed by local authorities – that makes it difficult or even impossible for many of them to perform in public in a manner of their choosing. Moreover, under such conditions the creative potential of street music is not allowed to unfold in its breadth and heterogeneity, but only in a limited manner. An analysis of the street art ordinances of the cities of Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck exemplifies the status quo in Austria in this regard and demonstrates how different the political strategies for dealing with street music are in this self-proclaimed country of music. Rather than being seen as a nuisance to be controlled, it is argued that a rich and diverse street music landscape has a significant democratic potential, which would flourish under a more sensitive approach to public spaces on the part of politics and city planning.