Bruno Nettl Book order (chronological)

Known affectionately as "The Red Book," Bruno Nettl's The Study of Ethnomusicology became a classic upon its original publication in 1983. Scholars and students alike have hailed it not just for its insights but for a disarming, witty style able to engage and entertain even casual readers while providing essential grounding in the field. In this third edition, Nettl revises the text throughout, adding new chapters and discussions that take into account recent developments across the field and reflecting on how his thinking has changed or even reversed itself during his sixty-year career. An updated bibliography rounds out the volume.

The first edition of this book has become a classic in ethnomusicology. This revised edition, released twenty-two years later, continues to provide engaging analysis and the most comprehensive discussion of the field. It examines ethnomusicology as the comparative study of the world's musics and the anthropological study of all music. The author selects thirty-one concepts and issues that have sparked ongoing debate among ethnomusicologists, adding four new chapters and updating the text to reflect recent developments. Each chapter explores its topic historically and includes case studies, many drawn from the author's fieldwork. His research spans the Middle East, Western urban settings, and North American Indian societies, enhancing our understanding of the diversity and universality of global music. The new chapters focus on the practice and writing of musical ethnography, the scholarly study of instruments, women's music and their roles, and the ethnomusicologist's examination of their own culture. This edition deepens the exploration of these critical issues, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the field.