Expert: Donald - 4/3/2008

Question
Maybe I'm missing something very basic here,but,when you think of classical composers (and I'm not sub-categorizing classical music here) they all seem to be European,or Russian.There's France,Austria,Russia,Italy,etc..
Were the Japanese composing music during this era??or the South Americans ??(the 16/17oo's-the early 1800's)
I NEVER hear of a Japanese master of sonatas or composers.
Am I not looking in the right place or are (were) there none??
If not I'd also like your opinion on why,and I there were,I'd like some suggested listening....
                                              Thank you
                                             Mike

Answer
Wow! This is a great question!

Certainly there was musical composition taking place in many areas that are not covered under surveys of Western Art Music. The focus of musicologists on European/Russian music has more to do with the development of particular styles and genres of music, as much as the development of civilization itself. Tracing various forms (sonata, symphony, song, etc.) takes us primarily to Europe for their origin. That said, tracing the ultimate development of those forms dictates where the focus of music history will be pointed. I believe that most of the music from other locations would show folk songs and some dance music (often related to religious ceremony, much like Western music.) Since folk music is usually simple in its' construction, it would show little development beyond folk music of other locations. Repeat schemes are either present, or not, and this helps to determine the form.

I hope that this helps answer your question. I'm sure than an ethnomusicologist could shed more light on this. You might want to google "ethnomusicology" and see if there is a site that would provide more information.

Thanks again for an outstanding question!

Donald