Annual Gathering of UCLA's Ethnomusicology Community Highlights Participation of Students, Educators, and Graduates at the 63rd Society for Ethnomusicology Meeting
The 63rd annual Society for Ethnomusicology Conference, held in Albuquerque, was a vibrant gathering of over 1,000 international scholars, including academics, musicians, and anthropologists. The conference aimed to advance the field by offering a forum for up-to-date conversations and live music performances.
One of the key themes of the conference was Jewish Music in the North American Diaspora. Jeremiah Lockwood from Stanford University discussed "Opportunity and Conflict: The Gentrification of Khazunes," while Clara Byom, an Independent Scholar, delved into "Is the Repertoire of Sammy Musiker the Real Jewish Jazz?: Expressions of Jewish American Identity in the mid-20th century." Joseph Alpar from The Graduate Center, City University of New York presented "Hasidic Songs, Sephardi Voices: Constructing Modern Religious Selves in Istanbul's Jewish Community." Lillian Wohl from the University of California, Los Angeles shared insights on "An Opulent Silence: Cantors and Jewish Liturgical Music in Twentieth Century Argentina."
Another significant theme was Musical Tradition and Modernity in Iranian National Identity. UCLA Chair of Ethnomusicology, Mark Kligman, served as a panelist in this event. Mohsen Mohammadi, also a UCLA Ethnomusicology Lecturer, presented "Traditional Modernities: Modern Discourses on Traditional Iranian Modal System." Solmaz Shakerifard from the University of Washington presented "The Dispute over Microtones: Aesthetics and Identity in Iranian Classical Music," and Mohsen Mohammadi from the University of California, Los Angeles presented "Traditional Modernities: Modern Discourses on Traditional Iranian Modal System."
Scholars and performers collaborated to showcase new material at the conference, with topics ranging from indigenous music to global pop and beyond. A notable presentation was a new documentary film by Steven Feld, concerning ecology and the well-being of people at his field site in Papua New Guinea.
For those interested in the specific topics covered at the 2018 conference, consulting the conference program or proceedings would be advisable. The program link for the 2018 SEM Conference can be found online to discover what the school of music's current students and faculty presented.
The Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern California and Hawaii Chapter (SEMSCHC) will hold its 60th Annual Meeting on March 2-3, 2019 at the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106. For detailed information, contacting the Society directly or accessing their conference archives would be advisable.
In the realm of education and self-development, online platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for learning. For instance, one might explore the Jewish Music in the North American Diaspora, a topic covered in online presentations at the 2018 Society for Ethnomusicology Conference, such as Jeremiah Lockwood's discussion on the gentrification of Khazunes.
Similarly, those intrigued by Musical Tradition and Modernity in Iranian National Identity can delve deeper into this theme through online resources, as evident in the presentations by UCLA's Mark Kligman, Mohsen Mohammadi, Solmaz Shakerifard, and fellow scholars at the same conference.
