This booklet hardly needs a preface; the contents, I think. speak for
themselves.It contains a short and carefully brought up to date resume
of all that I. as a private University Lecturer in Amsterdam. have tried
to teach my pupils. It is intended as a general introduction to
ethnomusicology, before going on to the study of the forms of separate
music-cultures. I sincerely hope that those, who wish to teach
themselves and to qualify in this branch of knowledge, will find a
satisfactory basis for selftuition in the matter here brought together.
Regarding the possibility of a new edition, any critical remarks or
infor- mation as to possible desiderata would be very gratefully
received. J.K. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION My request for critical
remarks and desiderata has not been ignored. My sincere thanks to all
who took the trouble to let me know what they missed in my booklet.
Through their collaboration the contents have undergone a considerable
improvement and enlargement as compared to the original edition issued
in 1950 by the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam. under the title
'Musicologica'. I have taken care to add many particulars from
non-European sources. with the result that now the book is no longer so
Europe-centric as it was. Furthermore, I have done my best to mention in
a special bibliography all the more important ethnomusicological
publications, with the exception of those issued in the Russian, Arabic.
Chinese, Indonesian, Javanese.
