MA in Ethnomusicology

The School of Music offers an innovative one-year taught Master of Arts degree in Ethnomusicology. Internationally renowned as a centre of excellence for the study of Irish traditional music and world music, the Department offers a fresh and dynamic approach to the study of music at postgraduate level in Ireland. The MA in Ethnomusicology combines scholarship and performance in the study of a diverse range of music traditions from around the world. Emphasis is given to performance, history and theory of ethnomusicology, cultural and performance theories, and ethnographic field research.

Modules

History and Theory of Ethnomusicology (15 credits)
Ethnography of Music (15 credits)
Performance Theory (15 credits)
Performance (15 credits)
Research Dissertation (30 credits) or Research Project/Performance (30 credits)

History and Theory of Ethnomusicology

An exploration of the intellectual history and theory of the discipline through an examination of its roots in comparative musicology and the anthropology of music, and its more recent interdisciplinary engagements with cultural and critical theory.

Ethnography of Music

This module provides a theoretical and practical introduction to fieldwork methodology and ethnographic presentation.

Performance Theory

This module develops students’ critical and creative responses to musical performance and address issues of musical meaning, creativity and identity.

Performance

A practical exploration of a range of music genres and repertoires, and the development of skills in musical performance, improvisation and creativity, through participation in a variety of ensembles. Students may choose from the department’s offering of ensembles, such as Javanese gamelan, Irish traditional music or American shape note singing.

Research Dissertation

Through a programme of individual research under the guidance of staff, students investigate a music-culture and/or socio-musical phenomenon of their choice, employing appropriate methodological approaches and theoretical paradigms, and present the findings in a dissertation of not less than 12,000 words.

Practical Research Project

This module offers students the opportunity to explore research topics in ethnomusicology using both practice-based and theoretical methodologies with project work culminating a performance-based presentation.

Staff

Mel Mercier (Course Coordinator)

BMus (UCC), MFA (California Institute of the Arts). Mel is an ethnomusicologist specialising in Irish traditional music and African, Indian and Indonesian music. He is an internationally renowned performer and composer.

Dr Juniper Hill

BA (Wesleyan), MA, PhD (UCLA). Juniper is an ethnomusicologist specialising in Nordic music, Latin American music, North American vernacular musics and eastern European music, with many research interests including improvisation, music and social struggle, revival and cross-cultural fusions.

Kelly Boyle

BA, BMus (UCC), MA (Wesleyan). Kelly is an ethnomusicologist specialising in Irish traditional music, South Indian Karnatic music, and Javanese gamelan.

Entry Requirements

Second Class Honours Grade I, BA Degree, or equivalent, in Music or a cognate subject (e.g. Anthropology, Folklore, Cultural Studies). Applicants with an appropriate professional equivalent (e.g. professional musician of high standing, music media professionals, etc.) will also be considered.

Applications

The closing date for applications is 1 July; applications will also be accepted and reviewed prior to 1 July. Applications may be made online at http://www.pac.ie using PAC course reference CKE68. Please refer to the application procedure outlined in the Postgraduate Prospectus.

Enquiries

Mr Mel Mercier
University College Cork
School of Music
Cork, Co. Cork
Ireland

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: +353 21 490 4530
Fax: +353 21 421 2507

Further Information

Further information is available from the UCC Postgraduate Prospectus at http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/what/acsss/masters/ethnomusic/.