Some concepts we've introduced so far...

oral tradition vs written tradition, mnemonics of scripts
Hornbostel-Sachs system for classifying musical instruments
concept of frequency ratios and musical intervals (e.g. an octave is 2:1)
'Microtones', 'quartertones' (see www.maqamworld.com), equal temperament, frequency ratios
emic/etic distinction
ethnocentrism
Orientalism
'Arab' (people, music)

To do Thursday

Review: classes of instruments, concept of maqam
Ear training with the nay: Rast.
Continue critical introduction: "What is ethnomusicology of the Arab world?" (what is the Arab world? who is an Arab? what is Arab music?...)
Your turn: empirical investigations regarding "Arab music" (audio and video recordings)
"Drop the needle" test - The Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, 1900-2000 & ethnomusicology of the Arab world
Role of Arab nationalism (since 19th c) in formulating "Arab music" as "al-musiqa al-arabiyya"
Some historical overview...
- Islamicate timelines and periods
- The history of Islamicate music (as presented by Touma)
What is an SC paper? - ex: Touma (critical reading & analysis, together...)
Film: Umm Kulthum plays the role of the famous Abbasid-era qayna, Dananeer