Classes & Readings

Week 1 – Jan 12: Introduction to Islam in history, society and culture

Week 2 – Jan 19: Muslim discourses on the legitimacy of music 1: the sama' controversy

Week 3 – Jan 26: Muslim discourses on the legitimacy of music 2: ancient treatises and contemporary debates

Week 4 – Feb 2: The history of music in the Middle East: science of music, cosmology and musical affects

Week 5 – Feb 9: Mystical Islam and Sufism 1

Week 6 – Feb 16: Mystical Islam and Sufism 2. A case study of the Mevlevi Ayin

Week 8 – March 2: Qur'an recitation and other religious sonic practices

Week 9 – March 9: Diversity in the Muslim World: popular, syncretic and local tradition

Week 10 – March 16: Music and Islam in Iran

Week 11 – March 23: Music and Islam in Morocco

Week 12 – March 30: Music and Islam in South Asia