What World Music Leaves Behind

The global music industry often presents polished, staged performances, but what about the deeply personal, intimate sounds that never make it to the spotlight? In this session, we explore the musical traditions that exist beyond the stage—lullabies, laments, mourning songs, and healing chants—repertoires that hold cultural significance but are often overlooked in professional music settings.

Drawing on ethnographic research from Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the Eastern Mediterranean, this talk will uncover:

• The role of non-professional and semi-professional musicians in preserving tradition
• The often-unseen contributions of women in traditional music
• How the world music industry shapes (and sometimes erases) certain musical heritages
• The poetic essence of these traditions and its loss in globalised music scenes
• New rituals and digital spaces—how mobile phones and MP3 recordings are transforming musical transmission

This session is an invitation to rethink what we consider "world music" and to engage with deeply emotional and culturally significant repertoires that continue to thrive outside the mainstream.