What is ecomusicology?
It is not easy to define the relatively new interdisciplinary field(s) of ecomusicology / ecocritical musicology / music+nature studies / music+environment studies. Not only is this area of inquiry relatively young, but the academic fields (and the very words) that inform it are also subject to diverse and sometimes contested definitions. Essentially, ecomusicology involves the study of the intellectual and practical connections between the studies of music, culture and nature.
The primary academic fields involved include: literary ecocriticism, environmental history, environmental sciences, and music (including, but not limited to, the sub-disciplines of music known as musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, music analysis, music education, music composition, music cognition, music perception, acoustics, etc.).
As ecomusicology matures, this website will grow as well to reflect the greater clarity (or lack of clarity) and/or diversity (or lack of diversity, as the case might be) of the field. For more information on the ESG, read the brief history of the ESG (and its By-Laws) and check out some of the Resources as well.
Stay tuned, and get involved in the discussion!