The musicality of sounding objects. An ethnomusicological perspective on the study of musicality
Christian Ferlaino
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17792450
Abstract
Musicality is commonly defined as a set of abilities regarding the perception, appreciation and production of music. Studies on musicality tie this phenomenon to music without, however, providing an all-encompassing and unambiguous definition of what music is considered to be. The concept of music is complex to pin down as it changes across time and cultures and embraces a vast and often contrasting array of phenomena. I argue that studies on musicality may lend an incomplete picture of the subject by not fully defining its scope of action. My research on Calabrian sounding objects brought to light individuals who demonstrate the abilities commonly attributed to musicality but outside a musical context. These individuals defy the current definition of musicality, especially challenging its strong association with music. The article discusses Calabrian sounding objects and the refined musical abilities of people who make sound with these devices. It brings into the picture individuals who show refined abilities with sound, providing substantial evidence that the skills attributed to musicality are not necessarily linked to music. Drawing on extensive ethnographic data, this paper provides an ethnomusicological perspective on the study of musicality and calls for a new and more encompassing definition, one that is not bound to a specific definition of music.