Sociology of Music

4169 Words17 Pages
1.1 Write a short definition of the sociology of music in a paragraph. [8 marks] Paddison (2009), cited in King and Vos (2009:1), asserts that sociology of music is, “the study of the role of music within society, its dynamic as a mode human communication and its position within established social structures.” Sociology of music can also be defined as the manner in which people arrange their musical encounter through organisations, in various sectors, and via the music industry, and the ways in which they influence the ways music is produced, performed, marketed consumed, and comprehended within a particular society. 1.2 Choose and discuss any four (4) of the following themes or discourses in the sociology of music [72 marks] * Music and politics The correlation between music and politics is of remarkable significance to the music of South Africa, dating back to the pre-colonial days where music was a fundamental tool in its defiance against apartheid. In their encounter with Europeans under colonialism and apartheid, black South Africans struggled to preserve their African identity. In the following extract David Coplan and Bennetta Jules-Rosette , “…explore the ways in which Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, transformed from church hymn into protest song.” King and Vos (2009:78) . The scholars on this subject also explore how the song was spread throughout the continent of Africa because of freedom fighters who went for exile . From the middle of the nineteenth century, an emergent urban black intellectual elite used choral music to articulate the experiences and aspirations of their people. The loss of independence
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