740-466 Music and the Shaman

A pass in 740-105 Music and Ideas or equivalent or permission of the coordinator

An examination of the musical, verbal and dramatic performance of communication between the human and spirit worlds, including the performance of diagnosis and healing, from Siberia to Southeast Asia.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to (a) articulate how the ethnography of communication applies to musical practices in ceremonial life in Asia (a) analyse music and performance by identifying principles common to social organisation, cosmological organisation and musical organization (a) undertake independent research on topics related to music outside the western traditions.

Seminar paper of 1000 words (25%); a weekly journal of research readings (40%); a research essay of 3000 words (35%).

• Carol Laderman and Marina Roseman, eds, The Performance of Healing. Routledge, New York and London, 1996.