Someone who studies music is known as a musicologist. Musicology is divided into several branches, ranging from music theory to comparative musicology, which examines music from different cultures. A musicology degree is offered at many colleges, and some musicologists are also accomplished musicians with a deep understanding of their craft. If you’re interested in musicology as a field of study, you’ll find that it has a lot to offer, and you might even find a niche that you enjoy.
The history of musicology can be traced back to the 1800s, when several people published music-related studies. Music publications used to focus on reproducing scores and tunes for people to play. These studies began to look into the history of music, its cultural context, and its social impact. Early musicologists also began to investigate music theory, examining the roles of philosophy, science, the arts, sociology, psychology, and mathematics in musical expression.
Music criticism frequently draws on musicology, as a critic with a thorough understanding of the genre with which he or she is working can provide more informed and useful criticism. Some anthropologists and archaeologists also study musicology in order to apply what they’ve learned to the cultures they’re researching. A historical musicologist might study how various types of music developed, when new instruments became popular, and how music has influenced cultures throughout history.
A modern musicologist can draw on a variety of disciplines, including queer theory and sociological research. Modern music research can reveal fascinating details about subcultures like the protest movement or rave culture. To learn more about music, these musicologists examine it within a cultural context.
A musicologist may also study technical theory, such as musical patterns and math. When a musicologist compares music from different cultures or time periods, technical theory can become quite complicated. Math is the foundation of music, so mathematical analysis of music is fascinating. Mathematical principles dictate which sounds are pleasing to the ear and how they should be arranged. Music, in the form of acoustics, animal communication, and music cognition, may also be of interest to scientists.
Ethnomusicologists are people who specialize in music from other cultures. Many people are fascinated by cultures other than their own, as well as their myths, folktales, and belief systems, which is why ethnomusicology is a growing field of study. It can also reveal when colonial influences began to pervade music, as well as how native populations interacted with people from other cultures. This type of musicologist works in the field, documenting music as well as folktales and musical instrument information.