'Cultural mapping' has become a central keyword in the UNESCO strategy
to protect natural and world cultural heritage, including music
traditions. As a tool to increase the awareness of cultural diversity it
transforms the concept of intangible cultural heritage to visible items
by establishing multi-dimensional profiles of cultures and communities.
Cultural mapping has been used as a resource for a variety of purposes
as broad as the analysis of conflict points and peace building,
adaptation to climate change, sustainability management, as well as
heritage debates and management. Music has been playing a significant
role in each of these aspects. As this theme has rarely been explored
within ethnomusicology, this collection approaches the topic of cultural
mapping from four different thematic perspectives: The book starts out
with historical and methodological reflections on cultural mapping in
ethnomusicology, followed by an exploration on possible relation between
nature/ landscape (and definition of such) and music/ sound. How exactly
is landscape interrelated with music - and identified (and vice versa)?
The second half focuses more specifically on the UNESCO Intangible
Cultural Heritage. The articles not only address the broader political
framework, but also thematic and geographic case studies of Intangible
Cultural Heritage and music, as well as the pro of UNESCO's endeavours.
