Jaap Kunst
Dutch musicologist who coined the term ethno-musicology.
He is credited with coining the term "ethno-musicology" and steering the discipline away from comparative methods toward historical particularism.
- field
- Musicology, ethnomusicology
- nationality
- Dutch
- known_for
- Coining the term 'ethno-musicology'; field studies in Indonesia; recording gamelan music on wax cylinders
Lore & Background
Kunst was born in Groningen to pianist parents; his father was a music-school teacher and critic. He began violin at age five and was drawn to folk music during vacations to the island of Terschelling. After two years in banking and law, he grew tired of that work.
Reader's Guide
Jaap Kunst's significance lies in his pivotal role in renaming and reorienting the field of comparative musicology. Merriam. Kunst argued that music from non-European continents was no less sophisticated than European music, challenging mainstream scholarship of his time. His field recordings on wax cylinders and extensive archive remain a key resource for the study of Indonesian folk music.
Did You Know?
- Kunst was the first person to record gamelan music on wax cylinders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What term did Jaap Kunst coin?
Kunst is credited with introducing the word 'ethno-musicology' to name the academic study of music outside the Western classical tradition. This label helped give the field a distinct identity separate from general musicology.
How did Jaap Kunst change the study of non-Western music?
Rather than treating world musics as material to be ranked against European standards, Kunst pushed the discipline toward historical particularism—examining each tradition on its own cultural terms. This shift moved ethnomusicology away from the older comparative method and toward a more respectful, context-driven scholarship.
Why is Jaap Kunst still remembered by musicology fans?
He is widely regarded as the person who gave ethnomusicology its name and its methodological direction. His Indonesian fieldwork and his insistence on studying music within its own cultural framework set the template that the field still builds on.
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