Thievery or giving back? The challenges and potentials of using theatre to disseminate ethnomusicological research

Abstract

In 2004, ethnomusicologist Anne Lederman premiered Spirit of the Narrows, an ethnodrama based on her research in Ojibwe and Métis communities in Manitoba, Canada. Told from the point of view of the researcher, the play ‐ mixing narrative with live fiddling ‐ provides a compelling glimpse into the music tradition of these communities. It is also a fascinating example of ethnomusicological research translated for a non-academic audience. Using Spirit of the Narrows as a case study, this essay considers the challenges and potentials of bringing ethnodrama to ethnomusicology, or alternatively, ethnomusicology to ethnodrama. I argue that, if done with an eye to ethical relationships, ethnodrama can provide a dynamic means of disseminating music research. More importantly, it can engage communities in research and dissemination, in a sense, giving back that which was taken through research.