Towards practice research in ethnomusicology

This paper argues for ethnomusicologists to begin using performance not just as a tool understand the social and cultural field, but use music dance methods in ‘translational’ ethnomusicology that focuses upon translation communication of artistic aesthetics theorise space research outcomes are sited original performative knowledge, explored, produced delivered through itself. The briefly surveys some key historical discussions musical in/as epistemological challenges surround methodologically defined field such where there is no central canon. introduces concept ‘emic resistance’ researcher–performer resists translating their non-verbal, somatic aesthetic knowledge into text. concludes by drawing on most recent developments both ethnomusicological closely related performance-analytical scholarship propose translational model practice ethnomusicology.