Interculturalism in Music: The theory and practice of combining Dontri Thai and ‘Western’ music

Thai classical music (dontri Thai) and music rooted in the Euro-American tradition take fundamentally different approaches to pitch, rhythm, form, texture, timbre, and social function. Disparities in how these concepts and practices are understood and applied across the two traditions complicate attempts to combine them. In this lecture, Dr. John Garzoli considers the theoretical complexities, practical difficulties, and cultural implications of merging these traditions from a perspective that foregrounds the formal principles and aesthetic ideals of dontri Thai. This offers critical insights into the practice of altering Thai musical elements to fit 'Western' norms.

Dr. John Garzoli

Dr. John Garzoli is currently the Elizabeth Wood Research Fellow in Musicology at the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University. He is an Australian Prime Minister's Endeavour Fellow, an Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellow, an ENIT’s Research Fellow, and an Asialink Leaders Fellow. He has twice been Artist in Residence at Chulalongkorn University and has ongoing research collaborations with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Khon Kaen University where he has been Visiting International Scholar since 2015. He has studied and performed various genres of Thai and Western music and uses his first-hand knowledge of these musics to investigate practices of combining and interpreting them.

Venue Information

This lecture takes place in Room 708 on Level 7 of The Ian Potter Southbank Centre which is accessible via the lift. Please enter via the main entrance at 43 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006.

Image: John Garzoli at Ubon

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