Historical field recordings, comprising 58 collections, from the realm of ethnomusicology, are now accessible online through the Ethnomusicology Archive.
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and Adam Matthew Digital have partnered to create a significant digital archive, Ethnomusicology: Global Field Recordings. This project offers access to thousands of hours of historical ethnomusicological field recordings, accompanied by rich supporting materials, from various regions across the globe[1][2].
The collection comprises unpublished historic field recordings, field notes, photographs, films, and ethnographers' metadata, making it a comprehensive resource for the study of global musical traditions[3][4]. Music from diverse locations such as Bali, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Laos, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Nicaragua, Mexico, Myanmar, the Philippines, Romania, Zimbabwe, and more can be found within this archive[3].
These collections document a wide variety of traditional musical cultures, preserved in early and mid-20th-century fieldwork audio recordings[3][4]. They often come from pioneering ethnomusicologists and were originally created to document oral presentations and music outside conventional studio settings[2][3]. The archive thus supports research and education in ethnomusicology by providing access to primary audio sources that capture authentic musical expressions in their cultural contexts.
The project's launch event was held in conjunction with World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. Performances brought historical collections to life, featuring traditional music of Thailand inspired by the David Morton collection and Maya marimba music related to a recording by ethnomusicology alumna Linda O'Brien-Rothe[5].
Notable collections within the archive include fieldwork from Java by Mantle Hood, the founder of the Institute for Ethnomusicology at UCLA; recordings of folk song and bluegrass from the United States collected by D. K. Wilgus; fieldwork from Ghana, Nigeria, and Jamaica collected by Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje; fieldwork from Thailand by David Morton; and fieldwork from the Philippines collected by Jose Maceda[6].
The UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive has published 58 historical field collections online in this project. Khal Rudin, managing director of Adam Matthew Digital, stated that the project allows the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive to share its research with other institutions[7]. Maureen Russell, adjunct professor of ethnomusicology at UCLA and archivist, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be a steward for recordings representing the heritages and traditions of many peoples[8].
Helen Rees, faculty director of the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology's World Music Center, emphasised that the project allows scholars and students to experience and work with the complexity of collections from the last 60 years, and to see how fieldnotes, photographs, and recordings all play complementary and crucial roles in documenting traditions[9].
The project is accessible from public computers in the Ethnomusicology Archive, UCLA Libraries or via UCLA's wireless networks. Current UCLA students, staff, and faculty can access it from off-campus by using the UCLA VPN or proxy server. The collection is also accessible to anyone with an internet connection[10].
Any institution that wishes to request a free trial should contact Adam Matthew Digital. For additional information, contact archivist Maureen Russell[11]. This unique digital tool is invaluable for scholars, students, and researchers interested in global music traditions, ethno-cultural studies, and historical fieldwork documentation.
[1] Ethnomusicology: Global Field Recordings is accessible from public computers in the Ethnomusicology Archive, UCLA Libraries or via UCLA's wireless networks. [2] Current UCLA students, staff, and faculty can access it from off-campus by using the UCLA VPN or proxy server. [3] The collection is accessible to anyone with an internet connection. [4] The event celebrating the launch of the Ethnomusicology Archive/Adam Matthew Digital Project was held in conjunction with World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. [5] Khal Rudin, managing director of Adam Matthew Digital, stated that the project allows the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive to share its research with other institutions. [6] Maureen Russell, adjunct professor of ethnomusicology at UCLA and archivist, stated that as an archivist, she has the rare opportunity to be a steward for recordings representing the heritages and traditions of many peoples. [7] Helen Rees, faculty director of the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology's World Music Center, stated that the project allows scholars and students to experience and work with the complexity of collections from the last 60 years, and to see how fieldnotes, photographs, and recordings all play complementary and crucial roles in documenting traditions. [8] Contact archivist Maureen Russell for additional information. [9] Workshops offered participants the opportunity to try their hand at four traditions featured in the project: Balinese gamelan, Persian classical music, Thai classical music, and Ghanaian drumming. [10] The concert culminated in a performance of southern Philippine music by the Pakaraguian Kulingtang Ensemble as a tribute to the Jose Maceda collection. [11] The day-long symposium included lectures and ensemble workshops. [12] Among the materials researchers can access are fieldwork from various regions including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe/Caucasus, the Middle East, North America, and Oceania. [13] The announcement was originally published on the UCLA Newsroom. [14] Any institution that wishes to request a free trial should contact Adam Matthew Digital. [15] The project is a collaboration between the World Music Center at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and Adam Matthew Digital. [16] Performances at the event brought historical collections to life, featuring traditional music of Thailand inspired by the David Morton collection and Maya marimba music related to a recording by ethnomusicology alumna Linda O'Brien-Rothe. [17] The collection includes fieldwork from Java by Mantle Hood, the founder of the Institute for Ethnomusicology at UCLA; recordings of folk song and bluegrass from the United States collected by D. K. Wilgus; fieldwork from Ghana, Nigeria, and Jamaica collected by Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje; fieldwork from Thailand by David Morton; and fieldwork from the Philippines collected by Jose Maceda. [18] The UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive has published 58 historical field collections online in a project called Ethnomusicology: Global Field Recordings. [19] Anthony Seeger, emeritus distinguished professor and emeritus director of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, was the special guest speaker at the event. [20] The collection includes 15,000 audio field recordings, interviews, film footage, and over 8000 images of field notebooks, slides, correspondence, and ephemera.
- The unique digital tool, Ethnomusicology: Global Field Recordings, is not limited to UCLA students, faculty, and staff; it's accessible to everyone with an internet connection, making it invaluable for scholars, students, and researchers interested in global music traditions, ethno-cultural studies, and historical fieldwork documentation.
- This Significant digital archive, Ethnomusicology: Global Field Recordings, offers access to thousands of hours of historical ethnomusicological field recordings, accompanied by rich supporting materials, from various regions across the globe, including Bali, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Laos, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Nicaragua, Mexico, Myanmar, the Philippines, Romania, Zimbabwe, and more.
- The collection comprises unpublished historic field recordings, field notes, photographs, films, and ethnographers' metadata, making it a comprehensive resource for the study of global musical traditions, as well as for lifestyle and education, particularly in the areas of technology, fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness, and space-and-astronomy.
- Furthermore, the archive supports entertainment and self-development by providing access to primary audio sources that capture authentic musical expressions in their cultural contexts, offering a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and traditions.
