Delve into the expansive genre with this guide.
By Amanda Koellner
Sure, you’ve heard of world music, but have you ever heard world music? The genre is rooted in different countries’ cultures and traditions, and it encompasses nearly anything not American or British. Perhaps your eclectic aunt adores Turkish tunes, maybe songs by the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo frequently flows from the apartment down the hall, or a Chicago summer street festival opened your eyes to African dance. “World music opens up your ears and your brain to different ways of thinking,” says local film and theater composer Andrew Edwards. World music is everywhere, but diving headfirst into the vast genre can feel overwhelming. Whether you’d like to grow your iTunes library and listen at home, or experience live world music in Chicago, let this page be your guide.
Learn about world music
The Rough Guide to World Music: Europe, Asia and Pacific (audiobook, Amazon.com, $23.60) is an “unchallenged reference work on sounds from around the globe” that features hundreds of articles on non-Western pop, folk and classical music from more than 150 countries and gives a comprehensive inside look.
For another reference, head to Worldmusic.net/guide. This site couples text, including excerpts from Rough Guides with playlists and video content. The world map tab features clickable pins on countries around the globe. Click on India, and you’ll find a YouTube clip of a musician playing a bamboo flute and music trivia on everything from the sitar to Bollywood.
Listen at home
The Worldbeat station on Pandora is a perfect primer that offers a 24/7 stream of authentic ethnic music. You might hear a Canadian artist performing traditional Spanish guitar, French cover band Nouvelle Vague or Italian classical guitarist Gino D’ Auri.
Listen live
The Old Town School of Folk Music hosts World Music Wednesday, a weekly event that showcases local and touring world music talent. The event (at the Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall , 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.) is free, with a $10 suggested donation. Most Thursdays, a $20 workshop with the week’s artist follows. Be sure to check with The Old Town School of Folk Music before attending, as skill-level requirements vary. The school also puts on a weekly Global Dance Party – a techniques class at 8:30 p.m. followed by two hours of music from bands and DJs. Get tickets for $10 at oldtownschool.org
For the largest world music event in Chicago, head to the annual citywide multi-venue, seven-day World Music Festival. The extravaganza, from Sept. 21 to Sept. 27, 2012, includes both free and ticketed events . As the date nears, check back at worldmusicfestivalchicago.org for more information.
The more seasoned listener can also get in touch with Edwards, who hosts a World Music Composer’s Salon* at his Edgewater home one Saturday a month during the school year. For $5 a person, he provides wine, beer and “nibbles” to enjoy during a performance by a local world musician. Although it’s mostly for fellow composers, as attendees “get into weeds about harmony, theory and scale systems,” he says this invitation-only event is open to anyone interested. Contact Edwards at bluepolicebox.music@gmail.com for an invite.
Find more events
If you can’t seem to scratch your world-music itch, browse Unieros.com/worldmusic for a calendar of upcoming events in Chicago, which also showcases information on foreign films and ethnic festivals. Check out the videos tab, offering descriptions of past events with cost and location.
Venues around the city—Metro, The Cubby Bear, Lincoln Hall, Logan Square Auditorium and Mayne Stage—also feature top-notch touring acts throughout the year.
