Regine Allgayer Kaufmann Books

On the occasion of Gerhard Kubik’s 70th birthday scholars from most diverse disciplines and different cultures were invited to take part in an international symposium. This symposium was held at the Institute of Musicology of the University of Vienna in December 2004. The participants whose lectures are published in this book, came from various European countries and the USA, as well as from Japan and Africa. The symposium was dedicated to the work of Gerhard Kubik. The scholar who was born in Vienna, is one of the leading and most estimated ethnomusicologists of our time. His diversified cultural approach and his decidedly intra-cultural working method have always met with highest international approval. In the course of the past four decades Gerhard Kubik has undertaken extended field research every year which up to now has lead him to eighteen African countries, to Brazil and the USA. African Perspectives presents the scientific results of his friends and colleagues as well as the research activities of Gerhard Kubik.

The current state of ethnomusicology is concerning. Timothy Rice highlighted a lack of theory in the discipline in 2010, advocating for theoretical development to strengthen the field. In contrast, Kofi Agawu opposes any form of discipline, particularly when it originates in the USA, arguing for a commitment to diverse methods and theories, which he views as essential for the field's survival. Martin Greve echoed this sentiment in 2002, suggesting that ethnomusicology may need to vanish to evolve. As the organizer of the WORLD MUSIC STUDIES lecture series at the University of Vienna, I pondered how to envision a future for ethnomusicology amid these debates. Is the discipline truly unprepared for what lies ahead? We invited prominent figures in the field to discuss whether ethnomusicology can address contemporary challenges. Should we heed Rice's call for strengthening our theoretical foundations, or consider Ellen Koskoff's inquiry about the value of "muscle"? This publication includes written versions of lectures from the 2014 series, aiming to make these discussions accessible to a broader audience of ethnomusicologists. We hope this work stimulates fruitful future conversations.