An exciting introduction to the diversity of musical cultures including Africa, North and South America, Eastern Europe, India, Indonesia, and Japan, this text conveys the fascination and the excitement associated with ethnomusicology through in-depth case studies written by those who have studied these cultures firsthand. Readers are introduced to the performers and learn the variations in style and opinion that make each culture's music vibrant and alive. The authors provide an understanding of each culture and its music, as well as an explanation of the theory and practice of ethnomusicology.