Musicology. Ethnomusicology. Musician. All are terms that refer to people who study music, but in different ways that usually overlap. This small blog post isn’t meant to be definitive, but rather, to provide a brief overview.
Studying Music Can Mean Many Different Things
If you are a musician, and your aim is to interpret a piece with the goals and style of the composer, you will likely venture into one of these other two areas of study. You might research the history of the piece and the life of the composer. What was the composer trying to say or accomplish? Was there a particular movement that the music is part of? There are many ways to study a composer that can enhance your ability to play (or enjoy as a listener) the works of that composer.
As a performer, I am most inclined towards books that give context to a composer, a composition, or a type of music, which can be very helpful in interpreting or playing. One such book that I have used (and highly recommend) is Debussy’s Paris by Catherine Kautsky.
Kautsky’s book is far more than a biography of Debussy. She brings deep insights into how his work reflects culture during the Belle Epoque. The author, herself a pianist, elaborates on origins of much of Debussy’s music in relation to his experiences, the time’s artwork, politics, and more. She draws on the relationship between music and social history.The reader is immersed in Debussy’s world.
The book also has a website, appropriately titled Debussy’s Paris. The site has supplementary material, including poems, images, and musical works that add to what is expounded upon in the novel. If you want an in-depth look at Debussy and his inspirations, this is the book to read.
The Study of Music as a Musicologist or Ethnomusicologist
Music’s impact on the world is also an important field of study. Some musicologists (an expert in music as an academic subject, as opposed to a musician who is trained in performance or composition) study the history of music, looking at timelines of criticism, performance, and composition.
Ethnomusicology is the study if how music simultaneously influences and reflects culture, often drawing on knowledge of fields like anthropology.
Music as an academic subject has a lot of overlap with other arts and the social sciences. Its role in culture makes gives it an important relation to anthropology, and its relevance with regard to society ties music to sociology. A fine book to read in this regard is Men, Women & Pianos: A Social History.
Musician or Musicologist – Where Are the Lines
The lines blur somewhat between musicologist, ethnomusicologist, and musician. The academic study of music certainly musicians. Musicians may also need to consider the economics of music, looking at how in demand a certain type of music or musician is. To study the history of music and composers can help a musician learn and personalize music just as much as dedicated practice can.
In the end it’s about the student, his or her interest and intent. But whichever course turns out to be the path someone takes, this is a topic that one can go as deep and wide as they choose. And that, in itself, makes the study of music in any form quite rewarding.
