Indo-Persian Musical Cultures: Mapping Musical Connections

Study of connections between musical cultures of Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, and Iran. Exploration of musical ideas, forms, theories, instruments, styles, lyrics, etc. that make visible cultural continuities across broad Indo-Persianate world. Connected histories developed in these vast areas are not just through official language and religion of courts—Persian and Islam—but through trade, wandering Sufis, Persian poetry, scholars, and musicians, engendering deep and long-lasting connections. Focus is both historical and contemporary. Readings include articles and book chapters on musical cultures of Central and South Asia. By exploring diversity of commonalities in Indo-Persian musical cultures, understanding of often hidden similarities across different ethnic, cultural, geographical, and political boundaries is enhanced. Study elucidates values, ideas, and goals that relate individuals and groups across different places and cultures.

Letter grading.