Cantometrics: an approach to the anthropology of music

by Alan Lomax

Cantometrics means, literally, measure of singing or singing as a measure of culture; with it song performance may be analyzed and related to culture pattern. A product of Columbia University's long-term study of expressive behaviour, Cantometrics has been tested on the whole range of world music and has been taught in the classroom. The outcome is a training method suitable for self-instruction in the library or the home and for teaching and testing in the classroom. The material provided is appropriate for college or advanced high school courses in ethnomusicology, human geography, ethnic studies, anthropology, folklore, and other humanistic subjects.

Genres: Music

230 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Alan Lomax was an American ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. He was also a musician himself, as well as a folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and film-maker.