ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Ralph P. Locke, professor of musicology at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester recently received a $40,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for assistance in writing a book, which explores the influence of “exotic lands and peoples in Western music.”
The book, tentatively titled, “The Exotic in Music: Reflections,” will discuss the attitudes Westerners have had about foreign peoples and how those attitudes over a number of centuries have shaped Western music of all kinds, from classical music to film scores. In the book, Locke will also look at specific regions and cultures that have been important for Western musical creativity including, among others, the “East,” Spain and Latin America, and the Roma people (Gypsies).
“The exotic repertoire contains several centuries’ worth of distinctive, entrancing, and sometimes troubling works. When we enjoy Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly,’ we also experience how Westerners around 1900 viewed traditional Japanese culture,” says Locke. “In an increasingly globalized world, there is special urgency to exploring these exotic works. Images in the arts not only reflect reality but sometimes shape that reality.”
The grant will enable Professor Locke to devote the 2006-07 academic year to the completion of his manuscript.
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is the largest funder of humanities programs in the U.S.
The Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester educates talented musicians from around the world who become leaders and innovators in all fields of music. Established in 1921 by Eastman Kodak Company founder and visionary George Eastman, the School has achieved international prominence through its commitment to the highest standards of artistry, scholarship, and leadership.
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