Roma Music and Emotion

Filippo Bonini Baraldi's Roma Music and Emotion provides a new theory of music, emotion, and empathy from an anthropological perspective, addressing the failure of psychological theories to account for non-western musical cultures. It offers ethnographic descriptions of Roma weddings, funerals, and community celebrations and analyzes why Roma musicians cry along with music and how they arouse specific feelings in their audiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In Roma Music and Emotion, author Filippo Bonini Baraldi offers a groundbreaking theory of music, emotion, and empathy that emerges from an anthropological lens, challenging the inadequacies of prevailing psychological theories in understanding non-Western musical cultures. Having immersed himself for years among the Hungarian Roma of rural Transylvania, Baraldi presents captivating ethnographic accounts of their weddings, funerals, community celebrations, and intimate family gatherings. Drawing upon extensive field research and informed by hypotheses derived from cognitive sciences, anthropology of art, and aesthetics, Roma Music and Emotion delves into the enigmatic phenomenon of Roma musicians crying alongside their music and the profound emotional responses it evokes in their audiences. Written in clear and accessible prose, this book makes a significant ethnomusicological contribution to theoretical discussions on the intricate relationship between music and emotion.

Introduction:
The study of music and emotion has long been a central domain in the fields of psychology and musicology. However, the prevailing psychological theories on music and emotion have often failed to account for the rich and diverse musical traditions found in non-Western cultures. This gap in understanding has led to a limited appreciation of the emotional dimensions of music in these cultures. In Roma Music and Emotion, author Filippo Bonini Baraldi seeks to bridge this gap by offering a theory of music, emotion, and empathy that is grounded in an anthropological perspective.

Anthropological Approach:
Baraldi's approach is unique in that he combines extensive field research with hypotheses drawn from various disciplines, including cognitive sciences, anthropology of art, and aesthetics. By integrating these diverse perspectives, Baraldi provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the emotional significance of music in Roma culture. Through his ethnographic descriptions of weddings, funerals, community celebrations, and intimate family gatherings, Baraldi offers vivid insights into the emotional world of Roma musicians and their audiences.

Crying Alongside Music:
One of the key findings of Roma Music and Emotion is the phenomenon of Roma musicians crying alongside their music. Baraldi argues that this crying is not merely a result of emotional vulnerability or emotional distress but rather a deeply ingrained cultural practice that serves a specific emotional purpose. Roma musicians use their tears as a means of expressing and communicating their emotions, particularly during moments of intense emotional intensity. By crying alongside their music, they create a powerful connection with their audiences, who are often moved to tears by the emotional depth and authenticity of the performance.

Arousing Specific Feelings:
Baraldi's theory of music, emotion, and empathy goes beyond the mere description of cultural practices. He explores how Roma musicians use their music to arouse specific feelings in their audiences. Through the careful selection of melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, Roma musicians create a repertoire that evokes a range of emotions, from joy and happiness to sadness and melancholy. By tapping into the universal human capacity for emotion, Roma musicians are able to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.

Ethnomusicological Contribution:
Roma Music and Emotion makes a significant ethnomusicological contribution to theoretical discussions on the relationship between music and emotion. By challenging the Western-centric perspective that often dominates the field, Baraldi offers a fresh and nuanced understanding of the emotional dimensions of music in non-Western cultures. His book provides valuable insights into the cultural and social factors that shape the emotional expression of music in Roma culture and sheds light on the broader implications of this research for the study of music and emotion more broadly.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Roma Music and Emotion is a groundbreaking work that offers a much-needed theory of music, emotion, and empathy from an anthropological perspective. Through his ethnographic descriptions and interdisciplinary approach, Baraldi provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the emotional significance of music in Roma culture. This book not only expands our understanding of music and emotion but also contributes to the broader field of ethnomusicology by challenging the Western-centric narrative and promoting a more inclusive and diverse perspective on the study of music.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190096793