Anna Maria Busse Berger

In this engaging conversation, Anna Maria Busse Berger, a distinguished music scholar, and Henry Spiller, an expert in Sundanese music, delve into the intricate relationship between missionaries and local cultures in Indonesia. They explore the dual role of missionaries in documenting and influencing indigenous music while also attempting to suppress it. Their discussion sheds light on the decolonization of music histories, the significance of mission archives, and the collaborative efforts with anthropologists that shaped this complex narrative.

Anna Maria Busse Berger, a distinguished music professor, and Henry Spiller, an ethnomusicologist from UC Davis, explore the intricate relationship between missionaries and local music in Indonesia. They reveal how some missionaries preserved while others suppressed musical traditions, reflecting colonial biases. The discussion highlights their collaborative research, emphasizing the need to decolonize music histories and the role of mission archives in documenting cultural exchanges. Their new open-access publication aims to broaden access to Indonesian music narratives.

Dr. Anna Maria Busse Berger, a music professor, delves into the connection between music notation and memory in Gregorian chant. Topics include memorization techniques, monks' use of music for learning Latin, the shift to modal systems in chant, and the spiritual benefits of singing scriptures and hymns. The importance of memory in church music practice and performance is also highlighted.