Bruno Nettl on The Why of Musical Style:

Determinants.
Genetics
Geography
Speech and Language
GENIUS
The four factors have a role in
determining music style but in the
end, culture is the most prominent
determinant.
 The blackfoot people:
Social Relationships paralleled
the number of musical genres.
Lack of technology resulted in a
predominance of vocal music.
 Culture is represented in the way people music.
For instance:
Gender roles in the community (role of women
and men in a performance.
Social organization and political structure
(egalitarian vs hierachichal).
 Performance Practice
Elements of style that are most readily drawn in
and can be related to components of social
relations and conceptions of life present
throughout a musical performance.
Kaccheri and concerto
 How
The ethnomusicologist is required to first
seek in which musical style and culture
reflects in order to identify the ways in
which culture determines musical style.
 In summary
Each style of music is determined by a UNIQUE
• CONFIGURATION of historical, geographical and
linguistic factors. The Culture of the music is the major
determining force of musical style.
 The eternal question
• Each style of music is determined by a
UNIQUE CONFIGURATION of historical,
geographical and linguistic factors. The
Culture of the music is the major determining
force of musical style.
•