Non-Western Music

“Non-Western music is any music that grew out of a different culture or musical tradition than the European one. For someone who grew up listening to Western music, Non-Western music will have a recognizably exotic sound”

(Libretexts, 2019)

Non-Western music is a very broad way of grouping together very dissimilar genres based on location of origin and in some cases even the sound. Again, what western music is in itself is very subjective. Western music may simply refer to pop music of a western origin or all music from the region of the west. It may include places such as eastern Europe, or it may not include them. The simplest way to explain how western music sounds (which in and of itself contains many genres, and many eras of musical time) is music that utilizes the western scale. Again, this method of classification is subject to fallacy as what is considered the western scale may also be used to perform music of traditional or oriental origin. Some may use the term to describe music specifically originating form Euro-American ancestry. Among the most prominent types of non- western music by any definition is music ranging from a Chinese melody, an African chant or a Polynesian song. In such cultures music is highly tied to a sense of tradition and patriotism, and in many instances considered sacred, and a method of attaining contact with the define. Usual performances of such music are usual much more formal than their western counterparts and carry with them a sense of identity and traditional clothing/dance which are all coordinated performed in synchrony with one another. An example of this is the Maori Hakka, which is a chant used both as a war cry and a symbol of patriotic pride. It is performed by the men and is heavily tied to the traditional clothing(or lack thereof) which consists of showing off bodily piercings and tattoos., whilst chanting to create a trance like sense of rhythm(when performed with the repetitive drum beats and movements). It includes lyrics such as “we will sin, you we will eat you, we will cook you alive” This creates the effect of inciting intense fear into those not allied with the singer and a sense of power to those that are; This is one example of many where music is given a ritualistic and reverential approach. Their music’s structure, dynamics, scales are all completely different. In the West music is seen quite simply as a form of entertainment, or religious worship. In foreign countries music is literally as the Chinese believe “the language of the Gods” (proverb)or as the whirling dervishes of Turkey believe the lack of music is “silence is the language of God”(Jaladin Rumi). The focus in most of these cultures is the pervading sense of unity that song bring to the community. Music reminds them who they are, who their ancestors were and ultimately gives them a voice for generations.

“A single tree makes no forest; one string makes no music.” -Chinese proverb

References:

Estrella, E. (2018, March 29). The Key Characteristics of Non-Western Music. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.liveabout.com/non-western-music-2456842.

Music — Quotes and Proverbs. (2019, August 27). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://quoteproverbs.com/music/.