Course Description: “World Music I”, along with “World Music II,” is a laboratory-style, practical course offered by the Institute of Ethnomusicology at National Taiwan Normal University. It emphasizes the interaction and collaboration between the instructor, guest lecturers, and students, as well as the cocreation among peer students. “World Music I”, along with “World Music II,” employs a pedagogy called “holistic participation,” which aims to guide students in understanding specific musical cultures not only through reading scholarly works and engaging in discussions but also through listening to musical works, watching performances, learning about them, and actively participating in the musical practices featured in these cultures. At the end of the term, students present their learning outcomes as cultural inheritors, sharing with local audiences their understanding of the music culture. Students taking this course are expected to gain a broad understanding of the music culture, which lays the groundwork for more in-depth studies and research in music in the future.

Special Topic: “World Music I” of Term 112-2 and “World Music II” of Term 113-1 will focus on the special topic of Finnish Folk Music. The series of courses will introduce major historical periods and genres of Finnish folk music. “World Music I” will introduce the “ancient tradition,” “modern tradition,” and the “new folk music movement” while “World Music II” will delve further into styles and repertoire of the “ancient tradition” and “modern tradition,” and explore the diversity of expressive forms and styles developed in contemporary era.

Course Design:

1. In “World Music II” of Term 113-1, the instructor will continuously collaborate with members of Tallari, the Finnish folk ensemble based at the Finnish Folk Music Center (Kansanmusiikki-instituutti). Tallari members, including Katri Haukilahti (violin, nyckelharpa, vocals), Arto Järvelä (violin, Finnish nyckelharpa, mandolin, vocals), Esko Järvelä (violin, harmonium, tenor guitar), Sampo Korva (bass, kantele, guitar, harmonium), and Matti Hakamäki (vocals, arts administration), are all well-known music professionals and respected educators.
2. Students of “World Music II” of Term 113-1 will be divided into different groups for learning different tunes. All students are required to learn Finnish folksong signing. In addition, each student will be assigned to focus on learning one particular musical instrument based on their specialty. The current musical instruments available for learning include the kantele, the jouhikko, the violin, the accordion, the mandolin, and the harmonium.  
3. During the Term 113-1, Tallari members will give online courses in the first half of the semester, and they will visit Taiwan to conduct intensive courses in the second half of the semester.   
4. Students who would like to take “World Music II” of Term 113-1 should complete “World Music I” (exceptions may apply upon assessment by the instructor) first. Those who choose to take “World Music II” of Term 113-1 are required to participate in the performance at the National Concert Hall of the National Performing Arts Center on December 9, 2024.

Weekly Schedule:

Week 1, Sept. 2: Course Introduction

1. Recapturing the flavor of Finnish folk music
2. Introduction to the Kantele’s Day: Reading “The Kantele Day – Dynamic, Modern, and Persistently National”
3. Rehearsal: One piece from Japan Kantele Friendship Association: Hermanni ja Miina

Week 2, Sept. 9: Celebrating the Kantele’s Day

1. Reading: Ying-Hsien Chen. “Plucking the Forest Sound: Borealism in Japanese Enthusiasm for the Finnish Kantele.” 
2. Rehearsal: One piece from Japan Kantele Friendship Association: Kahvipannu-Hienohelma

Week 3, Sept. 16: Tallari’s Online Course I: Musical Instrument Lessons

1. Kantele lesson  
2. Jouhikko lesson
3. Fiddle lesson

Week 4, Sept. 23: Tallari’s Online Course II: Musical Instrument Lessons

1. Accordion lesson  
2. Mandolin lesson  
3. Harmonium lesson  

Week 5, Sept. 30: Pelimanni music

1. Reading: Tina Ramnarine. “The Folk Music Revival in Finland: Toward “New Folk Music.”
2. Listening: Teachers' demonstration
3. Rehearsal: Tutskovin polska; Maija-Reetan Hemmin polska; Salonkivalssi; Juokin toinen jenkka

Week 6, Oct 7: Folksong: Rekilaulu (rhyming songs)

1. Reading: Tina Ramnarine. “New Folk Music in the Urban Center.”
2. Listening: Teachers' demonstration
3. Rehearsal: Taivas on sininen ja valkoinen; Kukkuu kukkuu; Kyllä se kuukin kirkas on; Tula tullalla

Week 7, Oct 14: Folksong: Runolaulu (metric songs)  

1. Reading: Tina Ramnarine. “Värttinä: Womenäs Songs from the East.”
2. Listening: Värttinä Oi Dai
3. Rehearsal: Ei oo teisä laulajista; Mistä koppa kantelohon

Week 8, Oct 21: New tune 3: TBA

1. Reading: Tina Ramnarine. “New Folk Music in a Rural Context.”
2. Listening: JPP String Tease
3. Rehearsal: TBA

Week 9, Oct 28: New tune 1: Harras marssi

1. Reading: Hsin-Wen Hsu. “Reflexivity as Method: A Historiographical Comparison of Finnish Pelimanni Music and Taiwanese Hakka Music.”
2. Listening: Elävät työt – Juho Koirasen (1979-2004) sävellyksiä ystävien esittämänä (Tallari’s rendition of Harras marssi)
3. Rehearsal: Harras marssi

Week 10, Nov 4: New tune 2: Jos sä olet minun hellunani

1. Reading: Juniper Hill. “Rebellious Pedagogy, Ideological Transformation, and Creative Freedom in Finnish Contemporary Folk Music.”
2. Listening: Niekku 3; Jos sä olet minun hellunani by a) Jesse Kaikuranta and Tallari’s rendition; b) Lassi Logren’s rendition; c) Maija Pokela and Antti Järvelä’s rendition  
3. Rehearsal: Jos sä olet minun hellunani

Week 11, Nov 11: New tune 4: TBA

1. Reading: Vesa Kurkela. “Finnish Tango on Old Amateur Tapes—Complementing a Popular Music History with Local Sounds.”
2. Listening: Tango-orkesteri Unto Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3
3. Rehearsal: TBA

Week 12, Nov 18: Review session  

Individual reflection paper due on 23:25 pm, Nov 22

Week 13, Nov 25: Group examination

Week 14

Dec 2: Tallari’s arrival. No class

Dec 3 (19:00-21:00): Tallari’s intensive course

Dec 4 (19:00-21:00): Tallari’s intensive course

Dec 5 (19:00-21:00): Tallari’s intensive course

Dec 6 (19:00-21:00): Tallari’s intensive course

Dec 8 (10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00): Rehearsal

Dec 9 (14:10-15:00, 19:30-21:00): assist Tallari’s master class and concert at NTNU

Week 15

Dec 9 (13:30-17:00): Concert with Tallari. General rehearsal at NTCH

Dec 9 (19:30-21:30): Concert with Tallari. Showcase at NTCH

Week 16, Dec 16: Concluding remarks

Chen, Ying-Hsien. “Plucking the Forest Sound: Borealism in Japanese Enthusiasm for the Finnish Kantele.” Etnomusikologian vuosikirja 35 (2023): 11-38.

Hill, Juniper. “Rebellious Pedagogy, Ideological Transformation, and Creative Freedom in Finnish Contemporary Folk Music.” Ethnomusicology 53, no. 1 (2009): 86-114.

Hsu, Hsin-Wen. “Reflexivity as Method: A Historiographical Comparison of Finnish Pelimanni Music and Taiwanese Hakka Music.” In Decentering Musical Modernity: Perspectives on East Asian and European Music History, edited by Tobias Janz and Chien-Chang Yang, pp. 173-206. Bielefeld, Germany: transcript Verlag, 2019.

Kurkela, Vesa. “Finnish Tango on Old Amateur Tapes—Complementing a Popular Music History with Local Sounds.” In Feldforschung in Theorie und Praxis. Edited by Julia Ahamer & Gerda Lechleitner, pp. 199–207. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2007.

Ramnarine T. K. Ilmatar's Inspirations: Nationalism Globalization and the Changing Soundscapes of Finnish Folk Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.