by Alan Lomax
First published 1978
Alan Lomax presents his systematic study of how singing styles reveal the hidden structures of human societies. Drawing from extensive film recordings and audio samples spanning cultures worldwide, Lomax introduces cantometrics, literally meaning song as a measure of humanity. His research demonstrates that vocal traditions map directly onto the major historical movements of human civilization. Performance characteristics like rhythm, melody, and vocal technique function as coded communications about specific social arrangements. Lomax analyzes patterns in theme, text, and physical movement to uncover these cultural messages. His work establishes measurable connections between artistic expression and social organization for the first time. The book explains the methodology behind these discoveries and suggests applications for cultural planning. Lomax argues that these universal relationships between performance and society point toward a scientific foundation for understanding aesthetics.
Genres: 20th-century, anthropology, non-fiction, music, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-research, scientific-study
386 pages · Paperback · Routledge