Welcome to our collaborative blog! The posts on this blog were all created by undergraduate students enrolled in the general education (GE) Music Cultures of the World class at The Ohio State University in the fall of 2023. The class…
When I immerse myself in the composition ‘Touch of Scarlet,’ I am often enveloped by a nuanced blend of familiarity and mystery. The music, characterized by electrified traditional Chinese instruments like Erhu and Pipa, invites those with Chinese backgrounds or…
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most prominent music events in the world. It was created in 1956 by the European Broadcasting Union as a way for national public broadcasters to work on a common project once a…
In the 1970s a new style of music was being invented in Indonesia by Rhoma Irama, born Oma Irama. This music combined a broad range of influences from Indian film music, to western rock music, to the Indonesian orkes melayu…
The formation of modern Beijing Opera has many historical factors, and a large number of people and groups are involved in the construction of modern Beijing Opera. But the origin of Beijing Opera is the “Hui Troupe Entering Beijing” event…
In the world of modern Balkan Brass, groups like Fanfare Ciocărlia and Taraf de Haidouks are well known and loved. The genre of Balkan Brass and music from the Balkan’s in general is shrouded in mystery. It’s regarded by many…
by Ben Stoneking, Undergraduate student in Political Science “El Aparecido” (“The Apparition” or “The Manifestation”) is a Chilean song originally written and recorded by Víctor Jara which was included in the 1967 album Victor Jara. The lyrics tell the story of a man…
by Nick Brindle Buffy Sainte-Marie is an icon when it comes to music and, more specifically, Indigenous music. Sainte-Marie was born in 1941 on the Piapot Plains Cree First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan, Canada. Her Indigenous roots heavily influence her…
by Mark Petzing, undergraduate student in Honors Biology and Pre-Medical studies Fela Kuti was born and lived in Nigeria for most of his life, where he initiated many bands and political movements that were characteristic of his brand and music.(2)…
Gigi, the Indonesian word directly translating to “teeth,” might seem like a strange place to start when naming a band, but Dewa Budjana (guitar) did exactly that in 1992 with fellow members Armand Maulana (vocals), Aria Baron (guitar), Thomas Ramdhan…
I fell in love with Wu Fei’s music when I listened to her for an assignment in my Music Cultures class. She is an extremely talented musician. She went to the China Conservatory of Music, where she played the guzheng….