5: Musical Exoticism

In this topic we will consider various aspects of the use of ‘non-western’ music in contemporary composition. Aspects of ‘exoticisim’, musical appropriation, cultural context and commodification will be examined through a consideration of three case studies: Colin McPhee’s orchestral rendering of the Balinese Gamelan, Tabuh-Tabuhan; David Fanshawe’s pan-world fusion of the indigenous music of Africa into the western classical sacred choral tradition, African Sanctus; and the emergence of polyglot ‘world music’ signifiers in certain examples of popular and commercial music as exemplified in Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus. Discussion will be framed through a consideration of Edward Said’s 1978 book, Orientalism.

Preparatory Work

  • Read Derek Scott’s article Orientalism and Musical Style
    • Example: Ou va la jeune Indou from Delibe’s Lakmé
    • Example: The Chorus of Janissaries from Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail
    • Example: Rage Over a Lost Penny from Beethoven’s alla ingharese quasi un capriccio in G major, Op. 129
    • Example: Liszt’s Hungaria
    • Example: Bacchanale from Saint-Saëns‘ Samson and Delilah
    • Example: Feria from Rimsky-Korsakov’s‘ Rhapsode Espagnole
  • Read Timothy Taylor’s article World Music in Television Ads
  • Listen to David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus
  • View the introductory videos to Edward Said’s On Orientalism

Associated Listening

  • David Fanshawe – African Sanctus
  • Karl Jenkins – Adiemus | Delta Airline Commercial
  • Colin McPhee – Tabuh-Tabuhan | Gamelan Cudmani

Associated Reading

Additional Listening

  • Lou Harrison – Concerto for Piano and Gamelan

Additional Reading

  • McPhee, C. 1966. Music in Bali. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press
  • Mueller, R. 1990. ‘Bali, Tabuh-Tabuhan, and Colin McPhee’s Method of Intercultural Composition’ in Journal of Musicological Research, Vol. 10, issue 3-4, pp. 127-75
  • Sorrell, N. 2007. ‘Issues of Pastiche and Illusions of Authenticity in Gamelan-Inspired Composition’, in Indonesia and the Malay World 35, issue 101, pp. 31-48
  • Taylor, T. D. 2007. Beyond Exoticism: Western Music and the World. Duke University Press
  • Thielen-Gaffey, T.L. 2010. David Fanshawe’s African sanctus: one work for one world – through one music

Internet Resources