Convergent Groups: A Study of Musical and Cultural Confluence Around the World

Convergent Groups: A Study of Musical and Cultural Confluence Around the World uniquely compiles information related to the transcultural confluence of various cultures and examines some of the most influential genres of music in the world, and their transcultural nature. It explains to some degree, why certain styles of music sound the way they do given their influences. This book also examines the history of various music of the world in a way that speaks of a unified global history rather than everything existing in a vacuum. All the information in this book is not new and has been presented elsewhere, but this book brings together disparate facts which are not easy (likely impossible) to find in one place. The author examines the transcultural nature of the music of the African Diaspora, the Romani people and their Northern Indian roots, the many transcultural influences in flamenco music, and more. Readers also look at how instruments traveled the Silk Road to essentially become early “memes,” that is, often self-replicating and mutating. This shows how Persian and Greek musical instruments spread to Asia, Europe, and North Africa in yet another case of transcultural confluence (some would call it an early example of “globalization”).

Convergent Groups: A Study of Musical and Cultural Confluence Around the World lists many listening suggestions (of often obscure musical references). It is meant to be used in a course that provides (and requires) these listening resources. However, as a digital book without an accompanying CD or digital files, it is conveniently left up to the discretion of the teacher as to which artists or songs they would like to present to their students. The book being digital, also makes more sense in an online classroom setting than a traditional textbook (that requires listening CDs) would, especially when sharing digital audio files and videos is so easy, and the students are already online.  After studying the book, students will be very informed about transcultural influences among convergent cultural groups and how that has changed the musical landscape across the globe. After reading, students will know some influential and prominent women in various genres too. Many artists are named in each genre to provide lots of great listening suggestions.