What does music do for us?
Regardless of nationality or origin, music is a universal language comprehended and loved by all. Travel as you will, from deserts to cities to rural grasslands; Music persists. The gift of song and instrument is our most basic version of the expression, which is more challenging to stifle than other voices of expression.
People cherish music because it conveys emotion to virtually any audience and tells stories. Much like how we get more excited when we meet those who are more similar to us, we tend to react positively when we realize there are similar themes in the music we listen to. We learn to empathize and connect with other people or, in better cases, a new culture. A common complication in the study of foreign cultures is the language barrier. After all, how are two people supposed to speak to each other on equal terms if they do not speak the same language? Even through translations and interpretations, much of the original meaning is lost over time. The translator is not the author, and most of the time, written works can only reflect what the translator wants them to.
Fortunately, music bridges that gap between two cultures through emotion. Our brains may not comprehend the lyrics, but sound affects us all.
The Field of Musicology
“Musicology is a very open and inclusive field of academic inquiry,” says Dr. Ryan Bañagale. “It’s no longer just about considering the notes on the page, but rather about how the music affects the world around us.”
MUSICOLOGY VS. ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
Even though ethnomusicology and musicology are used interchangeably on occasion, there are still a few key differences between the two fields. There was a significant amount of scholarly debate on what separated the two fields.
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Musicology is the study of musical history, while ethnomusicology is the study of the connection between music and cultures. For this reason, ethnomusicology is more readily associated with departments such as Anthropology or Social Sciences. Musicology departments are more traditionally associated with Humanities.
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Musicology is not necessarily limited to the study of music in history, in fact, it can cover all time periods.
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Ethnomusicology, while not necessarily limited to, is primarily concerned with non-Western music. Musicology, on the other hand, while similarly not limited to, focuses on Western or European music of the past.
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Here are some helpful links on this topic.