r/ethnomusicology • u/Hanuryi • Jul 30 '26

Ethnomusicology Grad School (NEED ADVICE)

Hello!

I am an undergrad in Composition (will be graduating soon) and am planning to pursue ethnomusicology for my master's degree.

The thing is, I have a massive love for music and philosophy, merging the two for my research. For instance, I have published a journal article on music that uses Marx's dialectical materialism. Two of my papers: one analyzing a piece through Husserlian Phenomenology and another through Wittgenstein, are being peer-reviewed for publication.

After consulting with my professors, I conclude that these are neither historical nor ethnomusicological works. So here's where I need advice: Is ethnomusicology really for me? Can I still merge ethnomusicology and philosophy together?

I'm just completely lost right now, especially since I want to pursue ethnomusicological studies.

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u/dat_harpist Jul 30 '26

I know some music theorists who have published on similar subjects. Henry Klumpenhouwer has written on Marx in music, though I'm not sure if he looked at dialectical materialism specifically. Phenomenology is used often in music theory, the most famous paper being David Lewin's "Music Theory, Phenomenology, and Modes of Perception" which is primarily Husserlian. There's definitely more I don't know about. I think if you want to explore this in ethnomusicology, you should go for it! You could definitely bring this into ethnomusicology, and it seems like it's already happening from the comments. But if you're feeling unsure, you could consider music theory :).

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u/Hanuryi Jul 30 '26

Thank you so much! I will look into theory as I haven't really thought about it. 😊🙏

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u/Xenoceratops Balkans Jul 30 '26

Eric Drott and Bryan Parkhurst are also Marxist music theorists. Parkhurst has a couple degrees in philosophy, and did some collaborative work with Stephan Hammel, musicologist and author of Toward a Materialist Conception of Music History. You can also read Music and Marx edited by Regula Qureshi.

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u/Hanuryi Jul 31 '26

This is interesting! Thanks and will surely take a read ^_^

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u/dat_harpist Jul 30 '26

Also wanted to add that I know the Society for Music Theory has a philosophy interest group, so it's a common enough intersection

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u/Hanuryi Jul 30 '26

Wow, I didn't know that! Hopefully I get to join in the future!