📖 Overview
John Blacking (1928-1990) was a British ethnomusicologist and anthropologist who made significant contributions to the study of music's role in human culture, particularly through his research on African music and his theories about the biological and social foundations of musical ability.
His most influential work, "How Musical Is Man?" (1973), challenged Western assumptions about musical talent and argued that all humans possess innate musical capabilities. His research with the Venda people of South Africa formed the basis for several groundbreaking studies on the relationship between music, society, and human consciousness.
Blacking's academic career included positions at the University of Western Australia and Queen's University Belfast, where he served as Professor of Social Anthropology. His methodological approach combined detailed ethnographic fieldwork with broader theoretical questions about the nature of music and its universal presence in human societies.
During his career, Blacking published extensively on music education, ethnomusicology, and the anthropology of the body, developing theories about the biological basis of music making and its connections to social structure. His work continues to influence discussions about musical universals and the relationship between music and culture.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Blacking's clear writing style and his ability to explain complex musical-anthropological concepts to non-specialists. "How Musical Is Man?" receives particular attention for making ethnomusicology accessible while challenging cultural assumptions about musical ability.
Academic readers note the thoroughness of his Venda research and its methodological contributions. On Goodreads, multiple reviewers highlight his arguments about music's universal human qualities. One reader writes: "Blacking shows how Western notions of 'talent' miss the point about music's role in human life."
Common criticisms include:
- Some dated anthropological terminology and frameworks
- Dense academic language in certain sections
- Limited exploration of his biological claims about musicality
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings)
Google Books: 4/5 (42 ratings)
Most critical reviews still acknowledge the work's importance while disagreeing with specific theoretical points or seeking updated research. His books remain frequently cited in music education and ethnomusicology programs.
📚 Books by John Blacking
How Musical Is Man? (1973)
An analysis of music as a universal human capability, drawing from Blacking's fieldwork with the Venda people of South Africa and exploring the relationship between music, society, and human biology.
Venda Children's Songs (1967) A detailed ethnomusicological study of children's musical practices in Venda culture, including transcriptions and analysis of songs and their social context.
The Anthropology of the Body (1977) An examination of how different cultures perceive and use the human body in social and artistic expression, with particular focus on music and dance.
A Commonsense View of All Music (1987) An exploration of musical cognition and the universal aspects of musical experience across different cultures and societies.
Music, Culture, and Experience: Selected Papers of John Blacking (1995) A collection of Blacking's key academic papers covering his research on music, society, and culture, published posthumously.
The Problem of Musical Description (1981) A methodological discussion of how to analyze and describe music across different cultural contexts.
The Biology of Music-Making (1992) An investigation into the biological and evolutionary foundations of human musical ability and expression.
Venda Children's Songs (1967) A detailed ethnomusicological study of children's musical practices in Venda culture, including transcriptions and analysis of songs and their social context.
The Anthropology of the Body (1977) An examination of how different cultures perceive and use the human body in social and artistic expression, with particular focus on music and dance.
A Commonsense View of All Music (1987) An exploration of musical cognition and the universal aspects of musical experience across different cultures and societies.
Music, Culture, and Experience: Selected Papers of John Blacking (1995) A collection of Blacking's key academic papers covering his research on music, society, and culture, published posthumously.
The Problem of Musical Description (1981) A methodological discussion of how to analyze and describe music across different cultural contexts.
The Biology of Music-Making (1992) An investigation into the biological and evolutionary foundations of human musical ability and expression.
👥 Similar authors
Alan Merriam developed foundational theories about the anthropology of music and ethnomusicology that parallel Blacking's work on music's social functions. Like Blacking, he emphasized understanding music within its cultural context rather than through Western analytical frameworks.
Bruno Nettl focused on comparative musicology and the study of musical universals across cultures, building on ideas similar to Blacking's research on the Venda people. His work examining how different societies conceptualize music aligns with Blacking's interest in music's role in human cognitive development.
Ruth Stone studied West African music and its relationship to social processes, using methodological approaches that build on Blacking's ethnographic techniques. Her research on time, motion, and performance in Liberia connects to Blacking's theories about music's embodied nature.
Christopher Small developed the concept of "musicking" which extends Blacking's ideas about music as a fundamentally social activity. His analysis of musical meaning through participation and relationships rather than just sound mirrors Blacking's emphasis on music's social foundations.
Steven Feld conducted research among the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea, examining sound as a cultural system in ways that parallel Blacking's Venda studies. His work on acoustemology and the relationship between sound and place builds on Blacking's theoretical framework about music's cultural embeddedness.
Bruno Nettl focused on comparative musicology and the study of musical universals across cultures, building on ideas similar to Blacking's research on the Venda people. His work examining how different societies conceptualize music aligns with Blacking's interest in music's role in human cognitive development.
Ruth Stone studied West African music and its relationship to social processes, using methodological approaches that build on Blacking's ethnographic techniques. Her research on time, motion, and performance in Liberia connects to Blacking's theories about music's embodied nature.
Christopher Small developed the concept of "musicking" which extends Blacking's ideas about music as a fundamentally social activity. His analysis of musical meaning through participation and relationships rather than just sound mirrors Blacking's emphasis on music's social foundations.
Steven Feld conducted research among the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea, examining sound as a cultural system in ways that parallel Blacking's Venda studies. His work on acoustemology and the relationship between sound and place builds on Blacking's theoretical framework about music's cultural embeddedness.