ethnomusicology

[ eth-noh-myoo-zi-kol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of folk and primitive music and of their relationship to the peoples and cultures to which they belong.

ethnomusicology

/ ˌɛθnəʊmjuːzɪˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the music of different cultures

Derived Forms

• ˌethnomusiˈcologist, noun

Other Words From

• eth·no·mu·si·co·log·i·cal [eth-noh-myoo-zi-k, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• ethno·musi·co·logi·cal·ly adverb
• ethno·musi·colo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnomusicology¹

First recorded in 1945–50; ethno- + musicology

Example Sentences

A native Angeleno, Washington grew up in South L.A., attended Hamilton High School on the Westside, and earned a degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times

Cross, who occasionally freelances for The Seattle Times, first brought the idea of digitizing the magazine to John Vallier, curator of the UW Ethnomusicology Archives, in 2015.

From Seattle Times

“I think there is a lack of sensitivity using that courthouse as a prop,” said Cheryl L. Keyes, chair of the department of African American studies and a professor of ethnomusicology at U.C.L.A.

From New York Times

He studied composition and ethnomusicology at Tokyo University of the Arts and began playing around with synthesizers and performing in the local pop scene.

From New York Times

Sakamoto, who described classical musician Claude Debussy as his hero, studied ethnomusicology at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, with particular interest in the traditional music of Japan's Okinawa prefecture as well as Indian and African musical traditions.

From Reuters

Related Words

• country music