Week 1 - September 8: The Persianate world: introduction to Iran and Central Asia
From Grove Music Online, browse the entry “Iran”, especially parts II (“Classical traditions” by Hormoz Farhat) and III (“Regional and popular traditions” by Stephen Blum). From the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, vol. 6: the Middle East, browse the entry “Central Asia: Overview” by Theodore Levin. Compare with the entry “Central Asia” in Grove Music Online (by Stephen Blum). In reading these reference sources, skip technicalities and concentrate on acquiring a general understanding of the Central Asian and Iranian soundscapes.