If you’re looking for a scholarly musicological approach to the study of ancient music—you’ve come to the wrong place. But if you are in touch with students every day and need material which might help them become interested in the music and people of past eras — then read on. World In Tune is a program which presents threads of knowledge of mysteries, stories, and music of the past while making room for the student, with his individual inclinations, to weave his own tapestry — make his own discoveries.
For instance, if you look and study the people of ancient Egypt, ponder their colossal output of art and architecture built so well that much survives the 5000 years to our own time, of course one would realize that behind all these accomplishments was a people with goals, a people hard working and industrious; very close to the modern Japanese who brought their country from medieval times to the modern world in a very short time. Now take a statement of Curt Sachs quoting Josephus as saying that one of the musical modes of ancient music was A F E C B descending, the mode so prevalent in Japanese music. Coincidence? Possibly, or could music actually have an effect on a person’s psyche or the opposite – could a culture and people have their own soul-like feeling which in turn produces certain tendencies in the arts and other spheres of daily life? This fact is presented in World in Tune and mentions Josephus in passing but most of the emphasis is given to the example of the Japanese cherry blossom song—Sakura and saying that some Egyptian music could sound a little like this. The question or questions are left as questions whether the student pursues it is up to him or her.
Most of the World In Tune is like this. It presents true facts and knowledge not only of music but of History, Humanities and Math of past cultures in a way (especially by stories) that students can explore to make their own discoveries. Our goal for students is to try to have them look at their studies in a more holistic questioning way and bring to bear their own interest, questions, critical thinking and creativity into the classroom and hopefully into their own life.
