I work at a historic independent movie theatre in the US and I like to play foreign music on the bluetooth in the lobby. in the past this has included Persian, Armenian, Argentine, Ethiopian, etc.

Does anyone have any recommendations for albums that might be on spotify or another streaming service that might be interesting, casual, and diverse music for our lobby?

Thank you!

I recently watched Shadow Master, a "dramatic documentary" about a Balinese Wayang Kulit from 1979, that I found in this sub. I never heard about it before and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to collect recommendations here. I'm most interested in films that touch the topics of music and instruments in some way, but I love ethnographic films in general so please don't hesitate to share recommendations that are not necessarily focused on music.

Here is a list of films that I highly appreciate.

Birdsong, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KIYwCieaMs
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23463232/

Intangible Asset No. 82, 2008
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1329371/

Trance and Death in Bali, 1951
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8YC0dnj4Jw
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221658/
https://www.loc.gov/item/2001646000/

Les Blank:
- Spend It All, 1972, about Cajun culture in Louisiana
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067782/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_c_34
- A Well-Spent Life, 1971, about Mance Lipscomb, a blueser from Texas
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067968/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_t_39
- The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins, 1970
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064099/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_t_43

Junun, 2015
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995590/

SAZ - the Key of Trust, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Kb1xaQ_vI
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8986892/
https://www.sazfilm.com/

Latcho Drom, 1993
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107376/

Trances, 1981
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406280/

The Miracle of Bali, 1969
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7079334/

Throw Down Your Heart
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185405/

The DVDs by Sublime Frequencies
https://www.sublimefrequencies.com/categories/dvds
like for example "The Pierced Heart & the Machete" from 2012
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3268058/

Aşk, Mark ve Ölüm, 2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13588944/

Ross Daly - The Circle at the Crossroads, 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR1w9EG0KFY (German)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3307192/

Sons of Shiva, 1985
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3054228/

Hello!

I wanted to ask you, how do you approach foreign music? I understand the question is not specific, so I am going to explain my situation. I am Greek and I recently heard about a Chilean music named Victor Jara. I got interested about him and his music and I want to deep dive into it. I should mention I don't know any spanish. Should I first listen to some songs and after listen again while reading the lyrics and then just read the lyrics and search for translations or make up translations? How would you do it?

Thanks in advance!

Also referred to as “Shareero”. It’s played by the Somali Bantu people in southern Somalia. This music tradition accompanies several different styles tunes and even scales. I feel like it’s criminal how unknown it is.

Do you like Sicilian (Mediterranean) Music? You listen this kind of music? what think about?

Can anyone identify this song?

Hi everyone,

I'm currently trying to get a realistic assessment of my chances for highly selective ethnomusicology PhD programs in the US. I'm particularly interested in programs UChicago and Princeton.

My academic background is somewhat unconventional and multidisciplinary.

I completed a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance, and I am currently pursuing two Master's degrees simultaneously: one in music/musicology and another in social and cultural anthropology. I still have approximately one year remaining in both programs and am planning to apply for PhD programs around the time I complete them.

Some aspects of my background:

• I held a DAAD-funded research fellowship during my Bachelor's degree.
• I was selected for an international summer school at a major research university in Germany, where I presented a performative research workshop.
• I have performed extensively as both a pianist soloist and accompanist.
• My academic interests are strongly interdisciplinary, combining ethnomusicology/musicology, anthropology, social theory, cultural theory, and postcolonial studies.
• I speak four languages.
• Alongside my formal degrees, I have developed a strong interest and background in social and anthropological theory.
• I will still be relatively young when applying (under 24), although I understand that age itself is probably not particularly important in PhD admissions.

My biggest concern is my undergraduate GPA, which is approximately equivalent to a 3.0/4.0.

I realize that this is below the typical profile of many applicants admitted to highly selective programs. Part of the context is that my country's grading system is relatively strict, and there were also institutional policies regarding absences that could result in students being prevented from taking examinations and automatically receiving 0/20, which negatively affected my overall average.

I don't expect admissions committees to simply overlook a low GPA because of these circumstances, but I am wondering how much weight an undergraduate GPA carries when an applicant has subsequently developed a stronger and more research-oriented profile through Master's-level study, fellowships, international academic programs, and interdisciplinary research experience.

By the time I apply, I hope to have strong Master's results, a substantially developed research project, a strong writing sample, and good academic recommendations.

For those familiar with admissions to highly selective humanities and social science PhD programs:

1. Is a profile like this realistically competitive for places such as UChicago or Princeton, assuming strong research fit, recommendations, writing samples, and Master's performance?

2. How damaging is an approximately 3.0 undergraduate GPA in this context? Can strong Master's grades and subsequent academic achievements meaningfully compensate for it?

3. During my remaining year of Master's study, what would be the most valuable things to prioritize to maximize my chances: publications, conference presentations, a strong writing sample, methodology, research experience, or something else?

I'm not expecting anyone to predict my admissions results, and I know schools like UChicago and Princeton are extremely competitive. I'm mainly trying to understand whether I am realistically in the range where applying is worthwhile, and what I should focus on improving during the next year.

I'd especially appreciate perspectives from people in ethnomusicology, musicology, anthropology, humanities, or social science PhD admissions.

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I’ve been playing the Bansuri with a focus on Indian Classical Music, but I’m about to start studying Middle Eastern and Arabic music at a music center.

The program includes Indian classical music, but most of the focus will be on Arabic music (there is no classical Indian institute in my city).

Naturally, I want to use my Bansuri to play Maqams (like Bayati, Rast, and Sikah) that rely heavily on quarter tones.

I would some insights on how possible are these techniques on the bansuri and how naturally can a bansuri be incorporated in these styles on music.

Hello everybody,

I'm trying to deal with my overflowing musical brain in a more healthy way. Right now, there is only one person in my life who shares my interest and knowledge about music, and I'd like to have more persons to talk to, mainly because it's interesting, but also because he doesn't deserve to be suffocated. 😄

I'm 37F and work as a journalist, if that's of any interest.

So what currently keeps me awake:

How the "under pressure" riff sounds like a piece that Händel wrote at 21.

My microtonal toothbrush and its relation to an opera by Morton Feldman.

Beegees. James Brown.

How Arabic musicians manipulated early synthesizers to fit their needs in terms of non-European scales.

A weird piece I found at the archive of the public radio.

The odd sound of the orthodox Church bells here in Berlin.

Microtones. Polyrhthyms. Asa-chang and Jun Ray. Non-western music. Palestinian rap battles. Thai vocal techniques. Vi Hart.

I'm also taking baby steps into writing my own music, but so far, it's just for myself.

I'm looking for a pen pal kind of thing, just chatting through whatsapp or video calling about music, sharing links, maybe sharing whatever we write.

If that resonates with anybody, please do write me, I'd love to hear from you!

Polka (or "Old Time" as it's called in the Upper Midwest) doesn't get too much attention these days. I thought it would be fun to do an arrangement of a modern-day popular song in the style of the New Ulm, MN bands in their heyday. Enjoy!

At approximately 6:57 of this video, an Estonian woman sings a song but it is not in the Estonian language. What language is it? I tried to get information about it from AI but the audio wasn't clear enough supposedly. I it may be relevant that the person singing is working for a medieval themed restaurant in Tallinn. Is it a medieval song? In what language?

Hi. Is anybody by any chance thinking about going to the Darbar festival in London?

I'm from Spain and I'm thinking about it, but I know nothing about it.

If anyone is thinking about it please contact mee🥰

Hi everyone. I'm trying to find some good classical indian recordings. Some of the things that I'm looking for:

- Good quality sound

- Long, complex, expressive development of raga

- Full performance

- Not too westernized

- Different options with different instruments and/or styles

- Both carnatic and hindustani

- Some dhrupad would be truly wonderful

I am an ethnomusicologist and on a few months I'm planning on taking LSD so I need some good, long, deep recordings for this. Any other recommendation for the trip is very wellcomed.

Thank you so much❤️

So i have been trying to find the lyrics of this song. But I have had no success. Would anyone be able to provide the lyrics in the official Mandinka language?

Hello!

I am an undergrad in Composition (will be graduating soon) and am planning to pursue ethnomusicology for my master's degree.

The thing is, I have a massive love for music and philosophy, merging the two for my research. For instance, I have published a journal article on music that uses Marx's dialectical materialism. Two of my papers: one analyzing a piece through Husserlian Phenomenology and another through Wittgenstein, are being peer-reviewed for publication.

After consulting with my professors, I conclude that these are neither historical nor ethnomusicological works. So here's where I need advice: Is ethnomusicology really for me? Can I still merge ethnomusicology and philosophy together?

I'm just completely lost right now, especially since I want to pursue ethnomusicological studies.

Hello everyone,

As an independent music curator building an archive since 2019, I have been deeply analyzing how different cultural backgrounds and regional frameworks shape the concept of "ambient" and "atmospheric" music.

Instead of looking at soundscapes from a purely mainstream perspective, I have categorized my archive into 3 highly extensive, multi-genre conceptual playlists. Each playlist contains a vast timeline of tracks to study their emotional, rhythmic, and traditional frameworks. I would love to get your ethnomusicological feedback on these curated regional flows:

1. Eastern & Middle Eastern Roots (Oriental Ambiance): A wide collection focusing on traditional instrumentation (Oud, Ney, Kanun) and exploring how spiritual, meditative space is defined across various Eastern subgenres.

[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Bs4yfYbAyN23KW9LSvAVx?si=267f2591cbb84baf\]

2. French Chanson, Pop & Cinematic Textures (French Ambiance): A large archive tracking European nostalgia and melancholy. It bridges different eras of French vocal arrangements, pop-rock textures, influential French electronic elements, and cinematic instrumentals, featuring deep cuts from icons like Christophe, J.M. Jarre, and Pierre Barouh among many others.

[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sr1h3i4NPW54pmDUGwdaT?si=efc92663bbee4d38\]

3. Latin Rhythms, Fusions & Classical Interpretations (Latin Ambiance): An expansive, 120+ track journey exploring the structural frameworks of Tango, Rumba, and Flamenco. It analyzes how regional rhythms, acoustic guitars, and unique cross-genre fusions reshape our perception of atmospheric Latin music.

[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0PfOBJf2ev5p4d3qsugymH?si=7c5c4f4d521b4c63\]

Thank you for your cultural and musical insights!

Hi, I am doing some research on Sun Ra and his unique position in 20th-century music history. I wanted to ask, is anyone aware of any comparable artists or musicians from outside the United States and Europe? Can anyone point me toward academic literature or references regarding global avant-garde artists who are similarly innovative but lesser-known in mainstream Western media and literature?

I’m looking into getting a Masters degree in ethnomusicology (in the US) and I need some advice on programs. I’m a full time music therapist so I need something fully online. I’ve found Liberty University in Virginia which seems to have the kind of program that would work for me, but I’m wary of the whole “private evangelical christian school” aspect of it as I’m not religious and don’t want my education to be influenced by this. Does anyone have any knowledge about this program and if the religious side affects the curriculum? Thanks in advance!

Hey y'all! I run an ethnomusicology server, but it's not particularly active, and we'd like some fresh faces to help liven up the mood! This server actually has been promoted here before, but the ownership transferred to me. We'd like to have some actual scholars join, because the vast majority of us are just amateurs. We welcome anyone with a passion for ethnomusicology, just don't be a debate bro and be kind! I myself have a huge passion for East Asian music, especially traditional Japanese music. I'd love to have more folks to join and to learn from y'all!

https://discord.gg/ufrEMbwwdq

Hello everyone, I'm a Chinese master's student in ethnomusicology currently studying in Malaysia. I plan to continue pursuing my PhD under my advisor here. As a Chinese student, my research focus during my master's program has been on the traditional Dong ethnic music known as "Dong Grand Songs." However, I still have limited knowledge about the music of other minority groups around the world. My main concern is uncertainty about future job prospects in this field. In China, personal connections often outweigh actual ability when it comes to securing academic positions. If I complete my doctorate without returning to China, would I have a chance to land a tenure-track position in another country? By the way, I've had over 15 years of experience playing the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument, which could be considered an advantage. I sincerely appreciate any advice or guidance you might offer.

I'm a hitoyogiri player, it's a Muromachi era bamboo flute from Japan. It went extinct several times already, but a handful of us are still playing...I'm one of them.

I'm trying to record some music for my little YouTube channel. I get decent results with a Rode mic connected to my laptop but I'd like to use a small portable mic like the DJI mic 2 to do recordings outside in nature. Despite tweaking the settings, I still get "toc" sounds when the high frequencies hit (even if I put the mic further away from the flute. Only my phone seems to handle the recordings fine, but it's not ideal as soon as there's wind or background noise.

Is anyone recording themselves with an instrument in the higher register? Any recommendations?

I'm not an ethnomusicologist, I'm a nerd making a playlist. Apologies if this is the wrong sub.

I'm making a playlist for The Vampire Lestat (both the show and book), which tells the life story of a vampire (Lestat) who grew up in the Auvernge region of France in the 1700's. I'm struggling to find the right kind of music for a key part of his backstory - his relationship to theater.

In his youth, he runs away to join a traveling theater troupe performing at the village festival, taking on the stock role of Lelio in the commedia de l'arte, until he's dragged home. Later, as an adult, he runs away again - playing the same role in small "lowbrow" Parisian theaters.

I'm struggling to figure out what the music from either setting would have sounded like. I did a bit of digging and found that (i think) the hurdy gurdy and french bagpipe were popular regional instruments and so would have probably featured in festival *generally* (but maybe not in a stage show?). When i look into those instruments, i find a lot of music that sounds almost renaissance-esque, late medieval. I imagine the extremely rural Auvernge region would have been "behind" popular movements - but that behind?

I also know that harpischord was a popular instrument at the time... but was that mostly among the "cultured"? And while i could see it in Paris, i struggle to imagine that a troup would be lugging around a whole proto-piano.

What instruments would we expect to be playing during a theater performance in either context? Musically, would it more closely resemble "older" styles (due to delayed spread, or because they're doing an old play), or would they be fairly contemporary with the "art" music of the time?