World Music Definition

[t4mh]

I'm sort of struggling with a definition of world music with respect to a specific listing and what is allowed or desired. There are no A LAs and so I'm trying to make an educated guess... Here is the listing:

NEW LISTING -- AUTHENTIC WORLD INSTRUMENTALS - both Contemporary and Traditional - are needed by an Independent Music Library/Production Company whose clients include the Discovery Channel and MTV as well as film credits such as "American Gangster" and "Bourne Ultimatium" to pitch for Film and TV song placements. Your instrumentation must sound credible and your arrangements should be full of the ETHNIC sound of the region you are representing. This is a very broad range so please send in ONLY compositions that are of a World origin and not Film-type Orchestral arrangements. They offer a non-exclusive publishing deal with a 50/50 split on any upfront license fees. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Monday, May 2, 2011.
TAXI # Y110502WO

To my way of thinking, World Music has elements of ALL the world in each track. But this listing seems to be asking for us to be more specific. At least it seems that way to me. If I am reading this correctly and write a Middle Eastern Sounding Track with Middle Eastern Instruments, that would be acceptable. The same would go for an Asian/Oriental (don't really like that term) track or an East African track or an Indian track and so on... Am I thinking correctly or am I heading out of bounds???

Thanks for your input!

[theharper]

>>Your instrumentation must sound credible and your arrangements should be full of the ETHNIC sound of the region you are representing.<<

I think "of the region you are representing" suggests that you are correct in your assumption.

Good Luck!

Peace,

[Casey H]

I'm sort of struggling with a definition of world music with respect to a specific listing and what is allowed or desired. There are no A LAs and so I'm trying to make an educated guess... Here is the listing:

NEW LISTING -- AUTHENTIC WORLD INSTRUMENTALS - both Contemporary and Traditional - are needed by an Independent Music Library/Production Company whose clients include the Discovery Channel and MTV as well as film credits such as "American Gangster" and "Bourne Ultimatium" to pitch for Film and TV song placements. Your instrumentation must sound credible and your arrangements should be full of the ETHNIC sound of the region you are representing. This is a very broad range so please send in ONLY compositions that are of a World origin and not Film-type Orchestral arrangements. They offer a non-exclusive publishing deal with a 50/50 split on any upfront license fees. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Monday, May 2, 2011.
TAXI # Y110502WO

To my way of thinking, World Music has elements of ALL the world in each track. But this listing seems to be asking for us to be more specific. At least it seems that way to me. If I am reading this correctly and write a Middle Eastern Sounding Track with Middle Eastern Instruments, that would be acceptable. The same would go for an Asian/Oriental (don't really like that term) track or an East African track or an Indian track and so on... Am I thinking correctly or am I heading out of bounds???

Thanks for your input!

World music is almost always specific to an ethnic/regional style, not a blend of all the world. The more authentic and recognizable as a regional style, the better. Many film/TV applications pick these tracks to go with scenes that take place in a given part of the world, are in an ethnic restuarant or other appropriate situation. History and travel shows need the very specific sounds. They want the viewer to feel like they are really "there", wherever that is...

Casey

[t4mh]

Thanks for the input guys! I hate to "assume" anything...

Good Luck!

[Kolstad]

I wonder, do you guys think a track like "Sisi Upendo" on my taxi page, would qualify as a "world" instrumental? On that one I tried to do something a la the guitars on Paul Simon's Graceland.

http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... ongcabinet

[t4mh]

Hi Magne!

Umm, I guess your track might work depending on the world music definition, which is sort of a slippery slope to me. I'm thinking this particular listing is looking for bagpipe music from Scotland, Irish whistle from Ireland. That sort of specific thing, rather than a generic sounding track. Having said that it seems to me that "Southern Rock" is ethnic world music for the southern part of the USA! I'm sure the Dixie Land Jazz folks would disagree as well as a bunch of other genres!

For this listing, I think generally, they want music from parts of the world other than the USA and they want the music to be extremely focused on the region. For instance, you wouldn't be able to successfully submit an African world track. You would have to define that more closely and write as an example, an Egyptian track, or a West African track. You'd have to divide up the jungle tracks from the South African tracks and really nail the music.

Lastly, if you write an arabic track, I don't think they'll want the orchestra (no matter how good its done) to break into anything like Lawrance of arabia or the Lion King type stuff. However, I might have every bit of this wrong...

Good Luck!

[Kolstad]

Yeah, to me there's something confusing about the word "authentic".. Seems it could mean 1) that the instruments should sound appropriate to traditional folklore in the real world, or 2) that the music actually has to be performed by musicians from the particular region in question, or mean 3) real sounding midi performances is allright as long as they adhere to instruments that sounds real in whatever region the piece is trying to emulate (Like in Motu Ethno 2, where particular instruments from specific countries and regions are categorized accordingly), maybe even 4) if it just sounds like it's from a specific region, it's allright.

As I didn't consider particular geographical regions while doing my track, only loosely "African sounding" in composition and guitar style, I'd think it's not appropriate for the listing.