ecomusicology

Dr. Aaron S. AllenAssistant Professor of Music

University of North Carolina at GreensboroSchool of Music

Aaron_Allen@uncg.eduSee also www.ams-esg.org

Musicology est. 19th century

Biomusicology est. mid 1980s

Zoomusicology est. early 1980s

Acoustic ecology / soundscape studies est. late 1960s & early ‘70s

Ecocriticism 1992: Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment

(ASLE)Environmental history

1977: American Society of Environmental History (ASEH)Ecomusicology

2007: Ecocriticism Study Group of the American Musicological Society late 1990s (also “eco-musicology”)

Interdisciplinarity: ecocriticsm + musicology = ecomusicology

EcomusicologyHow do musical works and performances

express the human-nature relationship?How composers/musicians express with musicHow listeners interpret/contextualize musical

experienceHow are musical cultures threatened and/or

preserved?“Cultural sustainability”

How does musical practice impact and/or sustain nature?“Ecological sustainability”

Sustainability in the HumanitiesUNCG Environmental Studies Program

Major & MinorNo classes focus on sustainabilityMany classes cover aspects of sustainability

EcomusicologyGuest lectures in ENV 101Incorporated into MUS 333 (required of music

majors)MUS 602 (spring 2011), “Ecomusicology” seminarFuture: undergraduate “Music and Nature” courseOthers: Biomusic course (MUS 426)

Dr. Aaron S. AllenAssistant Professor of Music

University of North Carolina at GreensboroSchool of Music

Aaron_Allen@uncg.eduSee also www.ams-esg.org