The annual meeting of the Northeast Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology was hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on April 4, 1998. Scheduled events included papers, a special presentation by Charles Keil, and the business meeting. MIT’s World Music Festival provided an excellent program of performances over the weekend including the Yamada-ryu Sankyoko ensemble, the Eurasian ensemble, Kiniwe (Tufts West African ensemble), MITCAN (MIT East African ensemble), Trichur Ramachandran (South Indian classical vocalist), and the MIT South Asian Cultural Show.

Chapter President Richard Jones-Bamman (Eastern Connecticut State University) chaired the paper session. The first paper, " ‘Calame’: Characteristics of Lullaby in Venezuela," by Robin Carruthers (Tufts University), discussed her findings within the larger context of lullaby studies from various disciplines and considered one Barlovento lullaby in detail to illustrate her analytic process. Andy McGraw (Tufts University) followed with, "The Gamelan Semara Dana: Innovation and Tradition," which presented his research on the Balinese gamelan semara dana, a new gamelan, invented in 1987 which can be understood as a combination of gamelan gong kebar and gamelan semar pegulingan.

"Chants and Rituals of the Paddy Harvest in Sri Lanka," by Preethi Fernando (Tufts) examined the role of music in the rice harvest, and how men’s and women’s songs and dances differ in style and manner of presentation. Lisa Lawson Burke’s (Framingham State College) paper, "The British Colonial Government vs. the London Missionary Society: Conflict and Controversy Regarding the Regulation of ‘Native Dance’ in the Gilbert Islands, circa 1900-1940," discussed colonial cultural policies and how they affected dance repertory and costume, song composition, and ritual practice. In the final presentation, "Using Elements of the Tala System in Non-Indian Music Classes," conference attendees tested their skills as George Ruckert (MIT) gave a mini-workshop on how tala exercises can be used to teach basic rhythmic theory and technique in harmony classes.

Following lunch, Andy McGraw (Tufts) and others held a Balinese gamelan workshop in the Endicott World Music Room. The afternoon also featured special guest Charles Keil (SUNY Buffalo), who spoke on "Groovology and the Magic of Other Peoples’ Musics." He discussed the theory of participatory discrepancy and how the power/magic of music arises from microtimings or microtunings. According to Keil, "groovology" may be a way to analyze social and political differences and how they are defined by musical style, as well as a method for examining issues of syncretism.

NECSEM 1998 concluded with a business meeting during which chapter officer elections were held: Tomie Hahn was elected as the new Vice-President and Lisa Lawson Burke was re-elected as Secretary. Richard Jones-Bamman (President), Tony Rauche (Treasurer), and Joseph Getter (Newsletter Editor) will continue in their positions. Members expressed appreciation to George Ruckert and the MIT local arrangements committee for organizing the conference and to Andy McGraw for coordinating the gamelan workshop. It was decided that the 1999 meeting will be held on April 10.

Robin Carruthers was awarded the James T. Koetting Prize for her paper, " ‘Calamé’: Characteristics of Lullaby in Venezuela," in a decision following the meeting.

Lisa Lawson Burke
NECSEM Secretary
April, 1998

NECSEM HOME