Week 3 Response: Merriam's "functions" of music in Western Art Music/1970s Punk/Arabic Mawwalil

1. Western Art Music - in the most general sense this may be defined as music produced following 'classical' Western traditions of theory, notation, instrumentation, & practice

• Function of emotional expression - at hands of both composer & performer
•  Aesthetic enjoyment
• Entertainment
• Symbolic Representation
• Physical response (maybe?) - prompt to dance; social construct of audience-clapping practices, etc.
• Enforcing conformity to social norms - in practice as well as content (religious music, people allowed/privileged to perform & hear music in this tradition/style)
• Validation of social institutions & religious rituals
• Contribution to continuity & stability of culture - perpetuates culture through enforced practice, performance, pedagogy, & rules

2. 1970s Punk - integral aspect of the growing punk subculture characterized by rebellion (against the norm, establishment, sentimentality, etc) as well as numerous ideologies ranging from the nihilism of Sex Pistols to the socialist aspirations of The Clash, along with a host of other sub-subcultures in between. 

• Function of emotional expression - clearly; just look at some of their performances
• Aesthetic enjoyment - ultimate celebration of aesthetic freedom
• Entertainment
• Communication - specific messages of punk mvt through image, performance, actions, words, etc
• Symbolic Representation
• Physical Response - anything, though it is often associated with violence/highly energetic behavior
• Contribution to continuity & stability of culture - in that it is integral to 'punk' though it often worked to undermine the establishment & authority rule
• Contribution to the Integration of society - punk [music] supposedly welcomed any who wished to take part in this movement & lifestyle, often across cultural & social boundaries (slightly different from the Skinhead movement around the same time which was generally partaken by working-class youths though many lifestyle/cultural similarities exist)

3. Mawwal - ancient Arabic music tradition characterized by distinct vocal technique & instrumentation (using traditional Arab instruments)...I think this stuff sounds so wonderful...
[Example of Traditional "Mawwal" style]
[More Modern example of "Mawwal" - Wael Kfoury] <--I only found out about this singer last year & I can't get enough of his songs!  He does both traditional & more 'modern' pop-fusion style songs.

• Function of emotional expression - improvisational freedom of vocalist
• Aesthetic enjoyment
• Entertainment - at least it is today, primarily in Arab cultures; it may have been in the past as well
• Communication - conveying poetic text
• Symbolic representation
• Contribution to the continuity & stability of culture - practice/style persists, with evidence of it being practiced even in Ancient Egypt, representing the longevity of Arab culture, particularly through music