Movements of Music: Migration, Diaspora and Cultural Heritage

The general purpose of this course is to provide an insight into the methods and approaches of modern musicology as an integral part of heritage studies, using music as a tool for analyzing and describing social changes, the interaction of state policies, cultural heritage, and audience, as well as for describing social identities.

The other main objective of the course is to explore various aspects of musical heritage management with an emphasis on creating audience development, and focused, yet socially conscious business policies. In order to react to the major, contemporary social, and sustainability challenges, in the fifth edition, we will concentrate on migration and music, the music of diasporas, and the connection between the movement of people and the movement of music.

The course builds on a highly interdisciplinary academic approach to modern musicology. The purpose is to provide an insight into the methods and approaches of musicology as an integral part of heritage studies, using music as a tool for analyzing and describing social changes, and identities, as well as to examine the ethnomusicological aspects of migration.

Due to the recent regional and international political crises, populism, war, economic and social inequalities, and climate changes, we experience increased migration and events of forced displacement. There have been many examples of movement/displacement of large groups of people throughout history, in the course of which the migrating cultural heritage interacts with the heritage of the new location, preserves certain elements, and creates new, independent phenomena. This is very notable in music: the mutual influence of different types of music from different places brings about innovative fusions and hybrids, as well as the need to preserve (and define) heritage.

Ethnomusicology traditionally deals with such processes and changes, however, due to recent global events, research on migration and diaspora has gained increased relevance and importance in ethnomusicology. Not only shall previously established notions be reinterpreted, and new migration processes examined, but the question of migrant creativity and survival, mobility, and integration should also be raised and examined.

Lectures and case study analysis of our course will focus on the above topics and aspects, complemented with seminar discussions, workshops, library research, and a field trip to Vienna.

Based on the feedback from last year’s courses, we plan to place more emphasis on students’ own research during the course: we will organize a workshop with a group of Iranian – Turkish – Syrian – Serbian musicians, giving an insight into the life of migrant musicians in Vienna, as well as a workshop with Ukrainian musicians living in Budapest.

We will continue our highly successful project development program: participants will be assisted by tutors in preparing a short presentation on a chosen subject relating to their cultural heritage, migration, and diaspora during the course.

Course leader

József Laszlovszky, Cultural Heritage Studies Program/Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Martin Stokes
Department of Music, King’s College, London, UK

Target group

The course intends to bring together graduate and post-graduate students, as well as junior researchers from the field of cultural heritage studies, ethnomusicology, sociology, ethnology, and social anthropology. We also accept applications from advanced undergraduate students who have adequate prior study or engagement experience on the subject and make a compelling case in their application/statement of interest.

No pre-requisite is required.

Course aim

The general purpose of this course is to provide an insight into the methods and approaches of modern musicology as an integral part of heritage studies, using music as a tool for analyzing and describing social changes, the interaction of state policies, cultural heritage, and audience, as well as for describing social identities.

The other main objective of the course is to explore various aspects of musical heritage management with an emphasis on creating audience development, and focused, yet socially conscious business policies. In order to react to the major, contemporary social, and sustainability challenges, in the fifth edition, we will concentrate on migration and music, the music of diasporas, and the connection between the movement of people and the movement of music.

Credits info

2 EC
CEU Summer University awards a certificate of attendance upon successful completion of the course. In order to gain this certificate, participants will be expected to attend and actively participate in all classes and complete assignments required by the course.

Fee info

EUR 480: payable until May 28
EUR 432: payable until April 30

Scholarships

The Open Society University Network is offering scholarships for
- currently enrolled students and employees of OSUN member institutions
applicants from the Global South or
- Ukraine.
Fee waivers are available for students of CIVICA institutions.