What is Non-Western Music?

Non-Western music is any other music outside of the European tradition. These labels refer to the type of music and instruments used. Just as oral histories are passed down in communities where written language is not widely used, the music of non-Western cultures is often passed down by memory. The key and pitches the instruments create can also help classify music as Western or non-Western. This includes the music of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America.

Many of the instruments we will study in this section fall into this category. Some examples of non-Western music include a Japanese taiko drum, an Andean flute ensemble, or a song by a Phillipine kulintang ensemble(pictured above). These labels refer to the type of music and instruments used. The key and pitches the instruments create can also help classify music as Western or non-Western. As a general rule, if you find an instrument in a Classical orchestra, it is classified as a Western instrument.

Photo(s) Attribution
Description: Brass Percussion Instrument
Source: thinkstock