Yearly gathering of UCLA music enthusiasts: Students, educators, and graduates showcase at 63rd Ethnomusicology Conference
The 2018 Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) Conference, held in Albuquerque, was a gathering of over 1,000 international ethnomusicologists, musicologists, anthropologists, and scholars of sound studies. The conference provided a platform for scholars to engage in up-to-date conversations to advance the field, and it included live music performances.
One of the key discussions focused on "Musical Tradition and Modernity in Iranian National Identity," chaired by Mark Kligman from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Kligman also served as the discussant for this session. UCLA Ethnomusicology Lecturer, Mohsen Mohammadi, presented "Traditional Modernities: Modern Discourses on Traditional Iranian Modal System." Solmaz Shakerifard from the University of Washington discussed "The Dispute over Microtones: Aesthetics and Identity in Iranian Classical Music."
Another significant discussion was chaired by Mark Slobin from Wesleyan University, titled "Jewish Music in the North American Diaspora." Jeremiah Lockwood from Stanford University presented "Opportunity and Conflict: The Gentrification of Khazunes." Jardena Gertler-Jaffe from the University of Toronto presented "Challah and Roses: Jewish Music in Toronto's Kensington Market." Liliana Carrizo from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was the chair for this discussion, and she also presented on "Jewish Liturgical and Religious Song."
Simone Salmon from UCLA presented "This is what Migration Sounds Like: Songs of Ottoman Jewish Cultural Relationships, 1920-1989." Joseph Alpar from The Graduate Center, City University of New York, presented "Hasidic Songs, Sephardi Voices: Constructing Modern Religious Selves in Istanbul's Jewish Community." Behzad Namazi from Ohio University presented "A Musical Repatriation: Tracing the Resurgence of the Barbat in Iran." Lillian Wohl from UCLA discussed "An Opulent Silence: Cantors and Jewish Liturgical Music in Twentieth Century Argentina."
The conference also featured a documentary film by Steven Feld, focusing on ecology and the well-being of people at his field site in Papua New Guinea. Clara Byom, an Independent Scholar from Ettrick, WI, discussed "Is the Repertoire of Sammy Musiker the Real Jewish Jazz?: Expressions of Jewish American Identity in the mid-20th century."
For more information about the school of music's current students and faculty presentations, the program link for the 2018 SEM Conference can be found here. The Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern California and Hawaii Chapter (SEMSCHC) will hold its 60th Annual Meeting on March 2-3, 2019 at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The conference covered a wide range of topics related to cultural identity, musical traditions and evolution, music and social change, technological impact on music, fusion and hybridity, and more. Given the interdisciplinary nature of ethnomusicology, the conference likely provided valuable insights into the study of Jewish and Iranian musical traditions. However, the specific presentations and themes at the 2018 SEM Conference focusing on these topics were not detailed in the provided text. For precise details, reviewing the official SEM conference program from 2018 or contacting the Society directly would be necessary.
Expanding the scope of learning beyond the conference, one could delve into online-education platforms to explore more about Jewish and Iranian musical traditions. For instance, pursuing online courses in education-and-self-development focused on music, such as those offered by UCLA or Wesleyan University, could provide a deeper understanding of the topics raised during the 2018 SEM Conference. Moreover, entertainment including music from these cultures, available online, can offer enjoyable ways to gain further knowledge and appreciation for these unique traditions.
