Editing Ethnomusicology (section)

==Objectivity==

As the study of music across cultures developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scholars began applying scientific methods to analyze musical structures systematically. Foundational work in this period established techniques that would later underlie the field. Alexander J. Ellis introduced methods for measuring musical pitch and scale structures in his 1885 paper, "On the Musical Scales of Various Nations". Ellis provided a basis for the objective analysis of musical systems, allowing for cross-cultural comparison and reducing subjective biases.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1885-03-26 |title=Musical Scales of Various Nations |journal=Nature |volume=31 |issue=804 |pages=488–490 |doi=10.1038/031488a0 |issn=0028-0836}}</ref>

Comparative musicology, a precursor to ethnomusicology, was largely driven by the efforts of early 20th-century scholars such as [[Carl Stumpf]] and [[Erich von Hornbostel|Erich M. von Hornbostel]]. Stumpf, a psychologist and philosopher, founded the Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, which became one of the first archives dedicated to the systematic collection and preservation of non-Western music. This archive enabled researchers to record and analyze diverse musical forms.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |title=Christensen - Eric V Hornbostel Carl Stumpf and The Institutionalization of Comparative Musicology |last=Christensen |first=Dieter|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/421862198/Christensen-Eric-v-Hornbostel-Carl-Stumpf-and-the-Institutionalization-of-Comparative-Musicology |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Scribd |language=en|year=1991}}</ref>

Hornbostel, a student of Stumpf, emphasized objective analysis of elements such as pitch, rhythm, and timbre across musical traditions. He promoted the use of standardized transcription and recording techniques, which allowed for detailed comparisons. Hornbostel's methods were instrumental in formalizing comparative musicology as a recognized academic discipline.<ref name="auto2"/>

While these methods introduced rigor, later scholars attempted to balance objectivity with cultural interpretation. This integration helped shape ethnomusicology into an interdisciplinary field that values both precision and cultural understanding.