Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, in Nov. 2010
The Musicology is the discipline which deals of the study of both the theory and the history of music, that is, Musicology will deal with all phenomena related to music: from the history, going through its relationship with the human being and even with society, among others issues.
Discipline that addresses the history and theory of music
It is a vast discipline, which houses not only different branches but also various schools with their own points of view when it comes to analyze its object, which is none other than music, its subject of study.
Deepening in the history and culture of musical genres
The history of music or historical musicology, as it is also called, is a subject within Musicology that will deal with precisely unraveling how music has developed through the centuries. This sub-branch is nourished by documents such as: manuscripts, works of composers, biographies of authors, the relationship between the word and music and between it and the society in question.
On your side, Ethnomusicology, is that branch that studies music in the cultural context in which it develops, therefore, it is that it requires that the ethnomusicologist observe the corresponding music in situ, in the place where it is given, probably, for later Being faithful with the conclusions, it will be necessary to record and later transcribe the music, as well as interview the musicians who interpret.
The cultural factor, the uses and traditions that prevail and that characterize a geographical area are fundamental when developing a type of music that will be considered as indigenous and typical of that place.
Most of the most popular musical genres and rhythms come from, originate from a territory in particular, and generally they have to do with those customs that we talked about, and then it may be that it will spread to neighboring areas and even beyond.
The tango
We could give countless examples in this sense, tango is a genre par excellence from the Río de la Plata, cultivated and born in Argentina and also in Uruguay.
And whose birth is closely linked to the popular classes coming from the migratory wave of the most varied origins, during the second half of the century. XIX, composed mainly of male descendants of indigenous people and African slaves, a fact that will greatly influence the relationship that it marks between men and women. women.
Tango is a popular music where it is studied, its rhythm, its lyrics, its characteristic dance in pairs with very sensual movements.
As a consequence it was rejected by the upper classes and by the Catholic Church, it was even banned for a long time and its development was concentrated in suburban areas and their poorest neighborhoods, in ports, brothels, prisons and in the famous still lifes where people drank something.
Over time it spread incredibly and by case is that today it is widely demanded not only outside this center but in other continents and absolutely opposite cultures such as the eastern one, where tango is a fury.
And the music theory, It will be the branch that describes the elements of music, the development and use of methods to compose and analyze music from musical notation to sound itself.
Bachelor of Musicology
This discipline can be studied in various universities and musicology associations that are dedicated to teaching as well as publishing information related to music and the subject.
Universities offer a bachelor's degree in Musicology, which lasts for five years, and trains students in everything inherent to music. investigation and musical practice, an in-depth study on the history of music, the link with the plastic arts and the literature, among other topics.
Topics in Musicology