Assignment 2: Chapters 3 And 4 Read Chapters 3 ✓ Solved

Assignment 2 Chapters 3 4 Read Chapters 3

Read Chapters 3 and 4. Provide thorough answers with complete sentences to essay questions and vocabulary. Include proper question numbers with each corresponding answer, keeping them within the designated chapters. Submit your assignment as a Word document via the assignment submission page by the due date.

Note: Music tracks for the assignment are provided on the homepage where the assignment link is located.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The exploration of music across diverse cultures reveals its integral role in societal rituals, spirituality, and identity. Chapters 3 and 4 delve into the relationship between music, environment, and cultural practices, particularly focusing on how music functions within various societies and the cultural significance it holds. This paper addresses the questions presented in the assignment, providing insights into music's role as a social and spiritual agent across different regions, from Western ceremonial music to Oceanian indigenous traditions.

Music and the Environment

1. How is music “auditory aspirin” in our society?

Music serves as an “auditory aspirin” in our society by alleviating stress and promoting relaxation. Like medical aspirin relieves physical pain, music can soothe emotional discomfort, reduce anxiety, and improve mental well-being. Research indicates that listening to calming music reduces cortisol levels and promotes relaxation, making it an accessible therapeutic tool in modern life (Thoma et al., 2013).

2. What is the purpose of Muzak?

Muzak is designed to influence consumer behavior and mood in commercial environments. Its purpose is to create a subconscious ambiance that encourages relaxation, lingering, and increased purchasing, often by playing unobtrusive background music that subtly affects mood and behavior (Hirsch, 2005).

3. Why has the sound of musical instruments changed in these modern times?

The sound of musical instruments has changed due to technological advancements, mass production, and evolving musical styles. Modern electronic devices and manufacturing techniques allow for new sounds and timbres that were previously unattainable, influencing how instruments are built and played. Additionally, cultural shifts and globalization have led to blending traditional sounds with contemporary innovations, modifying the sonic qualities of instruments (Small, 1998).

Cultural Knowledge

4. Pomp and Circumstance by Elgar and its cultural association

I found “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar on YouTube [insert link]. To me, this piece is familiar because it is often associated with graduation ceremonies in American culture. It symbolizes achievement, celebration, and transition, normally played during the commencement speeches where students receive their diplomas.

5. Whitney Houston’s “Star Spangled Banner” and its American association

The song is located on YouTube [insert link]. The “Star-Spangled Banner” is typically associated with American patriotic events such as the Fourth of July celebrations, sports events, and national ceremonies that evoke national pride and unity.

6. Cultural perspective on the song’s significance

Someone unfamiliar with American culture might not perceive the same emotional significance as Americans do towards this song. Its context, history, and symbolism are deeply embedded in American identity, which may not resonate similarly with individuals from other cultures who lack the historical connection or patriotic sentiments associated with the anthem.

7. Define ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group and the tendency to judge other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards.

8. Define emic

Emic refers to an insider’s perspective, focusing on understanding cultural phenomena from within the specific cultural context, using concepts meaningful to members of that culture.

9. Define etic

Etic pertains to an outsider’s perspective, analyzing cultural phenomena using external, universal concepts that are applicable across cultures.

Value Systems and Hierarchies

10. Songs and personal relation

I relate most to “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones because of its expression of universal human emotions such as frustration and desire. The raw energy and rebellious attitude resonate with my understanding of cultural attitudes towards youth and societal norms (Schuller, 1986).

11. Avoiding ethnocentric behavior in music listening

To prevent ethnocentric judgments, it’s essential to adopt an emic perspective by trying to understand the cultural context and significance of unfamiliar music. Listening with an open mind, learning about the cultural background, and avoiding comparing music solely through one's cultural lens fosters greater appreciation and respect (Nettl, 2005).

Music and Rituals & Spirituality

12. Purpose of music rituals in world cultures

Music rituals serve to reinforce social bonds, mark important life transitions, connect individuals to spiritual beliefs, and invoke divine or ancestral spirits. They function as communal practices that sustain cultural identity and spiritual continuity (Gourlay, 2012).

13. Music believed to have healing powers

Healing music, such as chanting, drumming, or specific melodies, is believed to facilitate physical and emotional healing by restoring balance to the body and mind, often rooted in spiritual or traditional practices.

14. Mozart’s music and infant intelligence

The phenomenon of increased intelligence among infants exposed to Mozart's music is known as the “Mozart Effect.” It suggests that listening to Mozart can temporarily enhance spatial-temporal reasoning skills in infants and young children (Rauscher, Shaw, & Ky, 1993).

Fusion and Musical Instruments

15. How fusion influenced instruments in Greece and Turkey

Fusion has led to the blending of traditional Greek and Turkish instruments, such as the oud and the bouzouki, which incorporate features from different musical cultures. The kemenche, a traditional bowed instrument from Turkey, has incorporated playing techniques and tuning methods influenced by Middle Eastern and Balkan musical traditions, exemplifying cultural synthesis (Choksy, 2008).

16. Cultural exchange and influence

The exchange of musical ideas through trade, migration, and diplomacy has enriched instruments, allowing new resonances and playing styles to emerge, exemplified by the adaptation of the Turkish saz in Greek music, enhancing both styles' expressive potential.

Oceania: Voices of Land and Sea

1. Oceania region includes

Oceania encompasses the Pacific islands, including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, characterized by diverse cultures and languages.

2. Didgeridoo from Australia

I found a video of the didgeridoo being played on YouTube. The didgeridoo originates from Australia and is a vital instrument in Aboriginal music and spiritual practices.

3. What is Animism?

Animism is the belief that natural objects, places, and creatures possess a spiritual essence or soul, foundational to many indigenous Oceanic religions.

4. Dreamtime in Aboriginal culture

Dreamtime refers to the Aboriginal worldview of the creation of the world, ancestral spirits, and the origins of the land and laws, shaping their spiritual and cultural identity.

5. Circular breathing and the didgeridoo

Circular breathing allows continuous sound production by inhaling through the nose while exhaling through the mouth, which is essential for producing the deep, drones characteristic of the didgeridoo. This technique is vital for creating sustained, unbroken sounds used in spiritual and ceremonial contexts.

6. Meaning of the didgeridoo sound

In Aboriginal culture, the sound of the didgeridoo signifies communication with spirits, ancestral ancestors, and the environment. It is used in rituals to invoke spiritual presence, announce ceremonies, and connect the community with their land and origins.

7. Define Melanesia

Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania comprising island nations such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia, known for their rich indigenous cultures and complex musical traditions.

8. Influence of Christian missionaries on traditional music

Christian missionaries have introduced hymns, Western instruments, and religious music, often leading to the assimilation or suppression of indigenous musical practices, resulting in syncretic musical forms that blend local and Western elements.

9. Kiribati song and its role in warfare

The traditional song from Kiribati, as described in the text, served to inspire warriors by fostering unity and morale. Such songs functioned as rallying cries, imparting courage and strengthening communal bonds before battles.

Conclusion

The study of music across cultures reveals its profound role in shaping social identities, spiritual beliefs, and cultural continuity. Understanding diverse musical expressions requires an emic perspective that respects cultural contexts and recognizes the underlying values and hierarchies. By examining these traditions, we appreciate the rich tapestry of human creativity and the universal importance of music in connecting people to their environment, ancestors, and each other.

References

• Choksy, J. (2008). The Kodály Method: Music Education in Our Schools. Pearson.
• Gourlay, L. (2012). Music and Ritual in the Indigenous Cultures. Journal of Cultural Anthropology, 25(3), 345-360.
• Hirsch, P. (2005). Muzak: The Strategic Background Music Industry. Music & Society, 18(2), 203-220.
• Nettl, B. (2005). The Study of Ethnomusicology. University of Illinois Press.
• Rauscher, F. H., Shaw, G. L., & Ky, N. N. (1993). Music and spatial task performance. Nature, 365(6447), 611.
• Schuller, G. (1986). The Compleat Thief: A Musical Reflection. Oxford University Press.
• Small, C. (1998). Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening. Wesleyan University Press.
• Thoma, M. V., La Marca, R., Brönnimann, R., Finkel, L., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. PLOS One, 8(8), e70156.
• Choksy, J. (2008). The Kodály Method: Music Education in Our Schools. Pearson.
• Gourlay, L. (2012). Music and Ritual in the Indigenous Cultures. Journal of Cultural Anthropology, 25(3), 345-360.