World Musics in Context

In part a compendium of information currently available, in part a dialectical examination of musical causation and function, this book contains a wide-ranging survey of musics of the world, in historical and social contexts, from ancient times to the present day. It aims to lead students, teachers, and, in general, those who practise Western music towards a deeper understanding of the various musical traditions that contribute to the modern, multi-cultural environment. It is preceded by a thought-provoking essay on music and ethnomusicology by Laurence Picken.