This market-leading, best-selling book covers ethnomusicology - the study of music in a people's way of life, which treats music as a distillation of cultural styles. The authors of this book approach diverse musical styles with the desire to understand them on their own terms - as the people who make the music would understand them.
The book is organized by region. Each study focuses on the life histories and autobiographies that are essential to understanding music as a human activity. Song lyrics are singled out by the authors as a way to understand the meaning and purpose of musical performances. Musical examples, or transcriptions, can be found on the accompanying CD's (not included with the book), and are treated throughout as points of departure for discussion. Readers music-making projects, singing, building and playing instruments, greatly increase music appreciation and allow readers to experience firsthand what it's like to be an ethnomusicologist puzzling out unfamiliar music. This book seeks to provide as much pleasure as knowledge, fostering lifelong curiosity and a desire to experience and appreciate music in all its forms.