World Musics in Context

This volume contains a wide-ranging survey of musics of the world in historical and social contexts from ancient times to the present day. It begins by describing aspects of musical style and function in relation to the early developments of civilizations as background to a study of later transformations. It then describes in some detail musical traditions of Africa and Asia in relation to history/geography and to other aspects of culture. A compendium of information currently available as well as a dialectical examination of musical causation and function this book aims to lead students teachers and those who practice Western music towards a deeper understanding of the various musical traditions that contribute to the modern multicultural environment.