Probably the most fun you can have exploring a culture is through its music. Music, unlike language, does not require you to understand the words to get the basic meaning or take enjoyment from it. For this reason it is the perfect vehicle to transport us across the border of cultural understanding. This week you will look at music from the geographic perspective and you will explore a region's musical styles and heritage in this week's assignment.

One of the best ways to learn about another culture is through its music. Music, like other aspects of culture, diffuses over space as people move and travel. A good example of this was when European and Americans first started coming to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1820s. A great clash of cultures occurred and the indigenous didn't stand a chance. Aside from introducing many new diseases like syphilis and smallpox which changed the makeup of the population, the Westerners also introduced new forms of music and instruments. Missionaries from New England introduced vocal harmonies and hymns. Cowboys from Mexico brought guitars. And Portuguese sailors brought the braguinha, which developed into the ukelele.

The native Hawaiians were not musical novices. They had a rich musical tradition that was Polynesian in origin and included many chant and drum dances, one of which was the famed hula dance. When the missionaries discouraged their native (re: heathen) culture, the Hawaiians adapted the new instruments and styles and melded them with their Polynesian roots. One instrument they took to was the guitar. In the late 19th century they retuned the guitar to create a harmonious chord and developed a whole range of open tunings which came to be called "slack key". In fact, it was a Hawaiian student, Joseph Kekeku, who first discovered that if you slid a solid object up or down the strings after you had strummed them, you created a chord which slid in a glissando. This style of guitar playing came to be known as the Hawaiian steel or slide guitar which was played with the guitar horizontally on your lap or on a stand. When this new musical style was introduced to the mainland US at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Expo in San Francisco, Americans went for it in a big way. One Hawaiian musician, Sol Hoopii, was the first to electrify the guitar in 1931. The slide guitar style was quickly adopted by American Blues musicians and the pedal steel guitar became the foundation of the Nashville country sound. Listen to some of the music at this You Tube Video on Keola Beamer, one of the best slack key guitarists today.(Source: Rough Guide to World Music)

This diffusion has occurred on a world wide level over hundreds of years. Many uniquely American genres of music such as Blues, Gospel, and Jazz have their roots in the African Diaspora which occurred because of the slave trade.

As you can see in these maps, the Slave Trade used slaves as a commodity. Slaves were taken from Africa and brought to the Americas in exchange for finished goods such as rum, gunpowder, and molasses. The majority of the slaves were brought to South America (Brazil received the majority) and the West Indies, while only a small fraction came to the United States. When they arrived, they were forced to keep their musical and religious traditions hidden. So they melded it with traditions already present in the Americas. From this mix emerged the Blues, Gospel, and Jazz in the US; and Samba, Forro, and Salsa in Latin America.

Musicians from Africa are unfortunately still in exile as this article inn the New York Times points out. Some Western artists are also attempting to find and preserve African music from the vinyl era before it disappears.

The result of the slave trade can be felt strongly even today in places like Salvador do Bahia in Brazil. Angelique Kidjo is a superstar around the world. She is from Benin, Africa and her music, while primarily informed by the region, mixes influences from around the world. Go to Angelique Kidjo's web site and watch the video available there regarding her her CD "Black Ivory Soul". (To view the video, click on Discography at the top of the page and "Black Ivory Soul" which will appear underneath it. Then look for the links to the video after the first paragraph of text.) How did the Diaspora affect the diffusion of African culture?

In modern times, this diffusion of musical styles has increased exponentially as the radio waves have exposed people all over the world to other's music. The music which has benefited the most from this has, of course, been western popular music. Country-western, Jazz, the Blues, Rock and roll, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk, and Rap/Hip Hop are all musical styles that developed and diffused from local musical styles in the United States and have gone on to have world wide impact. For example, the favored form of expression in today's Arab ghettoes of Paris is hard-edged rap with lyrics reminiscent of NWA sung in French or Arabic with a Rai (Algerian street music) back beat. For an example, listen to this sample from Khaled, the reigning king of Rai. To hear more Rai music, watch this program from Frontline World or listen to this program from the BBC

Over the past decade, the rest of the world is beginning to get a turn. The category of World music has become more and more popular within the United States. As its name implies, World Music encompasses music from around the world. It includes not only traditional music but also musical hybrids or mixes from numerous cultures. As you can imagine, lumping all the music of the rest of the world into one category like World Music makes it a difficult category to get a handle on. On the other hand, it leaves plenty of room for exploration. Read this story about the genre of World Music and this one by David Byrne about some of the problems with it.

People who study the development and diffusion of music are called ethnomusicologists. Bob Brozman is both an ethnomusicologist and a world class musician. Listen to his experiences of studying the musical mélange of La Reunion, an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. He also explains the difference of musical styles by continent in a way that even non-musicians can understand.

One of the great things that traveling did for me was to expose me to the incredible array of musical forms that can be found in our world. Every people has found a unique way to express themselves musically. While traveling, I began collecting the music that I heard so that I could share it with my friends when I returned. My collection has grown exponentially over the years and I now own music from every corner of the globe. Music has the power to transport us places and perhaps that's why I gravitate to it. When I'm not traveling, all I have to do is turn on a CD and I'm dancing in the streets of Brazil during Carnival again.

**Mr. Landreth’s YouTube Page:**

In the favorites section, I have linked as many quality artists as I’ve run into thus far on YouTube. Start your YouTube search from here.

Global Village Radio Recent shows Global Village Website and playlists

Afropop Worldwide on Soundcloud

Higher Ground from Wisconsin Public Radio

Sound Tracks- Great show on Music and its various influences around the world

Sound Tracks Quick Hits- Video features on various top musicians around the globe

Woodstock in the Caucussus

Blues and Migration

Eight Artists to watch for

Sound Opinions World Tour- These shows explain the pop music history of these countries in relation to the US

Sweden Japan Mexico South Africa

Higher Ground- This is an excellent radio program from Wisconsin Public Radio that is 4 hours of world music every Saturday and two shows to stream from week to week. Listen to it while you study. You may hear something you like.

Alt.Latino: A show dedicated to the best new Latin Music

Alt. Latino's Cuban selections: Sounds of Cuba

Cuba: While The Politicians Argued, The Musicians Jammed

Folk Alley- Americana and Folk Radio Show

Frontline World- This show has several stories dedicated to music. The one on French rap is interesting.

NPR World Music Page- Lots of stories, songs, and interviews to listen to at this wonderful radio station site.

BBC World Music Homepage: The BBC has some excellent programs devoted to world music. Many are available online.

BBC World Routes- Great 20 minute to one hour vignettes of music styles from particular countries.

World Music 101- Good site for articles and reviews of music for people new to the genre.

The World from Public Radio International: The World is a radio program of news and feature's from around the world. It ends each show with a five-minute segment devoted to World Music. This is a list to text and Real Audio of these segments. A great way to hear many different kinds of music and have it explained to you.

Afropop Worldwide Another radio program from Public Radio International that highlights African influenced music from around the world. Excellent discographies from each are provided along with some history. You can listen to the show every Friday night at 8:00 pm on 91.5 FM Chicago.

Rough Guide to World Music- Publisher of great travel guides, the Rough Guides have also become a leading world music label. They have great compilations, more videos online and streaming radio.

World Music Network: This label is published by the Rough Guides travel guide books company. They create some of the best compilations on the market from various parts of the world and the different genres. If you are interested in a particular type of music or place, they are a good place to start your exploration.

Putumayo: A record label devoted to World Music. They produce some of the best quality world music compilations which always come with detailed histories and explanations of the artists. There is much good information as well as music samples at this site.

Luaka Bop Records: Another music label devotes to World Music. There is much good information as well as music samples at this site. The founder of this label is David Byrne, former lead singer of the Talking Heads. Be sure to listen to the Luaka Bop Radio.

Real World- This is Peter Gabriel's World music label. It was the first major world music label and has introduced many great artists to the rest of the world.

Mondo Mix- French music label specializing in International music- Don't worry- the site's in English

Live 365- Links to listen to radio stations around the world. Open your ears to another culture.

Radio M- Chicago's own world music radio show hosted by Tony Sarabia. Get the scoop on what's going on in Chicago along with some great music and interviews.

Chicago World Music Fest- The best 10 days of the year. Mike Orlove and his crew at the Department of Cultural Affairs have done an outstanding job with this festival over the years. Every September, artists from around the globe descend on Chicago's best venues for ten days of inspiring music. Also check out Summer Dance.

Old Town School of Folk Music- One of the best institutions in the city for quality music. Don't miss their folk and Roots fest in the summer.

Chicago Reader- The place to find out what's happening in the city musically, as well as for anything else. How a Chicago Bluegrass Band became a hit in NigeriaPalestinian Intifada Soundtrack