1. Perhaps the most surprising revelation to me was vocal timbre. I always assumed that an "annoying" or "ugly" sound to my ears was universally annoying or ugly to the rest of the world. In particular, I am referring to a couple of examples from class: the video of the hatted ensemble from Ecuador, with the woman singing in an unusually high range, and the Ecuadorian woman lamenting for her child. At first the Ecuadorian woman's voice reminded me of one I would use at home to mock the 'tween pop stars. Then, I realized just how groomed and fussy a "beautiful" voice by western standards is. When a person is emotional or distraught, they are most likely not going to burst out in a lavish, throaty aria. What constitutes a "beautiful" song, then? One that is a romanticized portrayal of human experience, or one that depicts human emotion in its most raw, real form? In a way, a simple lullaby, song, or lament without grandiose orchestration, is more beautiful in that it is all the more pure.

2. This class gave me a small idea of just how many forms of classical art music there are, and how western art music carries pieces of many cultures. As an American, I come from many ethnic backgrounds; I can simply trace my family lineage to unearth many diverse cultures. I am grateful to be able to become aware of the many different forms of beauty in the world. It is a privilege to take a step away from what I am familiar with, and immerse myself in the unknown. I have been taught to be open to new things, and perhaps that is one of the best aspects of my own culture: it is very open and accepting of all ethnicities. 

3. I think I shall do some further exploring of the South Asian cultures. Dr. Weeks presentation of that realm of the world was particularly fascinating to me, mainly because it is so vastly different from anything I have ever known! I loved the temples, relics, and prayer flags. I always find out more about myself by learning about tenets of other faiths and peoples. By assuming the role of the omniscient observer, I can approach new ideas (some that may even be contrary to my own) with a blank slate, and gain a better understanding of myself, as well as a world foreign to me. 

Cool Stuff No. 3

I am a fan of Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara. She is truly a virtuoso and innovative performer on stage. I am always fascinated when cultural aspects from opposite ends of the globe merge and evolve to new forms of a certain genre, or in some cases, an entirely new style. Hiromi has made jazz glitzy, theatrical and bright. It's not just for dark smoky night clubs anymore. 

This song especially, is really beautiful.

I really liked the gamelan sound, and this video shows the making of the ensemble in Java. The music of the gamelan sounds so complicated when one does not know what is going on, and this is an excellent video showing all of the different instruments and how they are played.

Finally, the Tibetan singing bowls are definitely a cultural aspect in which I wish to become more invested. I love how tactile they are; not only can I hear several overtones the more the bowl begins to hum, but I can also feel the vibrations through my hands and head. I want to find out the medicinal benefits that these bowls have, for judging on the effect they have on me, they are quite beneficial to one's well being.