Brian Marshall

Kari Veblen

December 14, y

Annotated Bibliography
Brisson, J. (2015). Exoticism in multicultural choral repertoire: A comparison of Lydia Adams
Mikmaq Honour Song and Stephen Hatfields Nukapianguaq CanadianMusicEducator/
MusicienEducateurAuCanada, 56(4): 30-34.
In Brisson article, Exoticism in multicultural choral repertoire: A comparison of Lydia
Adams Mikmaq Honour Song and Stephen Hatfields Nukapianguaq, Brisson compares two
songs and the need for multicultural diversity within our environment. Bradley states that the
potential to develop multicultural human subjectivity in students depends on teaching world
music within the perspective of anti-racism pedagogy (pg.30). This interested me because I
think this a very important and valid point. As a person with an ethnic background, the music I
heard was from my parents and it was often discriminated against and/or never addressed within
a school. I assume their music would be put into the category of world music and I think
listening to world music as a kid diversified me when it came to understanding music. Going to
elementary school I would never talk about the reggae music I listened to because the music was
not viewed as cool or was it accepted, so I was forced to listen to mainstream music. Now that I
know better its a frustration when I meet people that have very narrow minded and closed off
taste in music. Another thing I found interesting in the article was the point regarding middle
students dancing to ethic music or doing cultural dances. When students were participating,
according to Brisson students wrote about the awkwardness and discomfort they felt
participating in a dance tradition from a culture so foreign from their own. (pg.34). This is not
surprising at all. If people never get to experience musical diversity until late in their life,
suddenly stepping outside your comfort zone will be difficult. For many, they just never get the
opportunity to listen to diverse music. The article mentions world music, but does not really tell
us the importance and the benefits of incorporating these music in our school system. Speaking
from experience, ethnic music helps to create more well rounded musicians. I find when playing

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

western music the harmonic foundations and rhythm to be pretty simple and repetitive. When
learning to play ethic music, culture rhythmic patterns and harmonic foundations vary from
western music. Exposure and learning to play World music will help as grow as musicians and
teachers. Within the school system we need to break out of the of the hold we have on to our
own ways. If I could say one thing to Brisson, I would ask what would be the best way to
approach integration of world music in to our school system? how could we place it into effect?

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY