Thursday 4 April 2013

E for ETHNOMUSICOLOGY


Ethnomusicology is the study of music. It emphasizes cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other factors of music, instead of simply looking at sound components or repertoire. The term is also referred to as the study of people making music, and is often thought of as a study of non-Western music unless it is from an anthropological or sociological perspective. (Wikipedia)

While looking for examples to share with you, I came across the women of Gaua Island and the practice of water drumming. Gaua Island, located in the South Pacific Ocean, is one of the few places in the world where water music has been documented. It is tradition for the women of Gaua to preform water music when visitors come to the island. I found this so fascinating and hypnotic that I just had to add in the second clip that includes more singing.

  






Other exciting E_ology words:


Electrology: The practice of electrical epilation to permanently remove human hair. The actual process of removing the hair is referred to as electrolysis.

Emetology : The study of the causes of emesis (vomiting). 

You want to know what causes vomiting? 
Ten shots of Tequila. 

Enigmatology : the study of puzzles.

Etymology: The study of the history and origins of words, how they are formed and their change in meaning over time.

Entomology: The study of insects. 
 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ    (;

42 comments:

  1. Very interesting theme for the A to Z challenge. I found the water drumming videos fascinating (being an anthro minor myself). It reminded me somewhat of when I visited Fiji in 2000. The women of the local village there greeted us with songs sung in their native tongue and a beautiful hand dance.

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  2. wow... love it!

    of course, my fave here is: etymology - always fascinated me :)

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  3. I've never heard of 'water drumming', but how cool. It's amazing what different cultures come up with and how they pass things down through the generations.

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  4. And all this time I'd just thought that the study of music was just called music!

    The study of puzzles sounds interesting. My guess is that this isn't about jigsaw puzzles, but more along the lines of life's riddles and unsolved mysteries. Please go ahead and correct me if I'm wrong.

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    1. Hi Cynthia, I think you're right. Enigmatology is going to be more along the lines of solving enigmas, and not so much jigsaw puzzles. (:

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  5. I'd love to study music, the origin of words and puzzles...puzzles. Not loving the study of vomit. Someone else can do that. Nice choices today.

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  6. Hi Elise .. loved your C and D .. and now E for Ethnomusicology.. great words you're choosing to educate us with .. I know your interest is entomology ...

    But they're all great .. I know they're desperately trying to garner in and gather as many sounds as possible from the Mali area in Africa - I expect you hear a lot more of their music in France ...

    I've kept this open - as I can't hear the videos just now - but I'm sure will be fine later on .. and I want to tell someone about the Water Drumming Music .. cheers Hilary

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  7. Wow, just as effective as drumming on real drums!

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  8. Okay, those clips were so cool! Plus it looked like a great upper body workout. Water drumming, who knew?

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  9. It's 6:30am in Chicago and I thank you for a lovely wake up song. Hypnotic!

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  10. I wouldn't need ten shots of tequila...

    Love the water music!

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  11. Wow. That is incredible. The sound of the water adds a whole new dimension to the drumming.

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  12. Okay, that water drumming was so hypnotic. Had to show my kids!

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  13. Hi guys! It's great seeing you all, glad you stopped in and enjoyed the water drumming. I'll be hoping over to visit you and making my ninja rounds! (=

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  14. Oh i like this ology!
    The study of vomiting... who WANTS to study that. Ugh
    Dani @ Entertaining Interests
    #warriorminion

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  15. OOh, I want to do that, ;D

    Very entertaining, Elise!

    vomit..eeewwww

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  16. Who knew splashing could be so rhythmic. Great videos.

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  17. Awesome videos. When they sing along with it, I could listen to that all day long.

    I think I'd puke after one to three teq shots. Blech. Lol

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  18. If there was a prize for the most interesting subjects during the A to Z, you would win it, Elise. Water drumming is spectacular!
    I would like to learn Enigmatology.

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  19. Can you imagine an Emetologist trying to explain his job? "why yes, I play with vomit for a living"...I imagine most are single

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  20. That's really neat music. I'll be sharing the video- thank you for posting!
    ~Summer

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  21. As Summer said: that is truly unique music. There is a theory that music existed before written language or even verbal language -- that music molded Man's thinking to be able to think of and construct language even. :-)

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  22. The music I can get and the insects too, but puzzles and vomiting geez, the later isn't rocket science haha

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  23. Music can be made from various objects, and the ingenuity of humans to find those things is amazing. This type of example shows the joy in simple things. Thanks for the learning experience!

    Also, the study of vomiting might be useful for those suffering from associated diseases (CVS, Anorexia, etc.) Stress and migraines of the stomach are things that can make this worse.

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  24. Water drumming? That is crazy awesome!

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  25. I love your videos. Never even knew water drumming existed. Going to give it a try this summer.

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  26. I'd never heard of water drumming. Being an American...I know about water boarding...but that's not the same thing now is it?

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  27. I've never seen this before-- how wonderful! I loved the vid clips-- thank you for sharing and exposing me to something new.

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  28. Hey Elise,

    I was um just surfing the internet and I thought I better come and visit you. That water drumming was incredible. In that first video, I thought they were about to do "We Will, We Will..Rock You....!" Do you hear what I mean?

    I thought that "Enigmatology" was the study of an enigma like me. Then again, I'm a bit of a puzzle :)

    Excellent info in your ongoing theme, Elise. Happy alphabeting.

    Yes indeed, Gary, your cordial host at the alternate alphabet challenge! :)

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  29. I'd never heard of water drumming before. How fun! The clips are amazing, I really enjoyed them.

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  30. That water drumming was spectacular! Great E words.

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  31. The water drumming was really cool! Thanks for the video.

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  32. I studied music for several years, so I LOVE this post :)

    The water drumming is completely awesome!

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  33. Wow! Those Gaua Islanders water music is AMAZING! Thanks for sharing those clips. :)

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  34. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it...

    It is good that some cultures keep the "old ways" alive...

    LC

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  35. I can study music until my brain starts coming out of my ears and it still won't help me sound any better in the shower! :)

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  36. I knew this one!

    Michelle at Writer In Transit

    (I'm trying the link thinggie... hope it works)

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  37. Now that's something I've never seen before. Interesting, to say the least. If I were in the group, I'd be the one striking discordant notes. :)

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  38. You forgot eatopology, the study of remorseful overeating, not to be confused with feetopology, the study of foot-in-mouth syndrome. :)

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  39. That clip is awesome, its so obscure and raw. Thanks for sharing. I find etymology very interesting. Cheers

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  40. Gorge videos! What beautiful music! I love music. I really do believe it has an impact on our cultures, or way of life and our feelings towards ourselves, others and the world in general. Great post! :D

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  41. Hi Elise .. that was something else - what rhythmic sound .. quite amazing ..

    Loved both videos .. and they took me back to my recent Gong Bath -that I posted on ...

    Your A-Zs are great fun and very educative .. cheers Hilary

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