History of Ethnomusicology Part 1

Signs of ethnomusicology can be seen long before the actual study came into existence. Such signs include but are not limited to Ancient Greece, the Age of Exploration, and throughout Europe. Accounts from people of these times and places show examples of studies of ethnomusicology, but while that may be the case, these accounts were not taken from an academic perspective, but rather just as mere observations from their time period.

It was not until the 18th century that Antonio Pujades, who was considered the "theoretical founding father of ethnomusicology." Pujades was Spanish-born, and was a Jesuit Priest. Throughout his life, Pujades studied the music around him in Spain; specifically, music in churches and that of rural life in the country. Pujades' studies also influenced American and international academics in the early 1800's , with the beginning of studies into folklore and music.

Two such ethnomusicologists, who came into being through this change in academics are Oskar Kolberg and Frances Densmore. Kolberg was from Poland and was considered to be one of the earliest Ethnomusicologists. He studied folklore in Poland and wrote 36 volumes throughout his life. Frances Densmore was considered to be one of the first American ethnomusicologists and was known for her research into Native American music. They are only two of many such ethnomusicologists who came into being as time went on.

The studies into the musical traditions of various cultures, from across the world, generated a lot of interest among Western scholars in the 19th century. They came up with different organizations dedicated to such studies. One of the first pioneering institutes of its kind was the International Musical Society in Berlin established in 1899. Subsequently, ethnomusicology became a richer field of sociocultural studies as the 20th century rolled on.