The Models of Authenticity

Sandstone Middle School World Music Class

West Africa, Ghana

Kpanlogos, and Djembes 

     Mrs. Ellis, the music teacher at Sandstone Middle School, does not take the performance out of context to

teach her students. Without the use of traditional instruments, I believe some music educators would rely on

traditional American wind band classroom instruments. Palmer describes authenticity as “A continuum places

absolute authenticity on one end and I assume music taken out of context on the other end” pg. 24. The piece is

performed on traditional instruments from Ghana such as the kpanlogos, and djembes. 

Kivy’s explains the historical and personal authenticity as “Using authenticity to enhance the aesthetic value.

This can be done by using instruments pertaining to that culture, and knowing the intention of the composer’s

and the performance practices at that time” pg.25. The instruments used for this ensemble are unique and

topped with African antelope hide. The African music culture make use of corpophones, and membranophones

quite often.  

     Swanwick explains authenticity as reproduction, reality, and relevance. He describes reproduction as

“reproducing the piece exactly as it was first performed.” “Reality as reflecting the music practice in the world 

and not just in the classroom, and relevance as generating individual meaning” pg.25. I believe Mrs. Ellis’ world

music class creates an authentic reproduction of the piece, but as Kivy and Koops argue, “This hinges on a

belief that there is a unitary example to produce” pg. 26. This assumptions bothers many educations because

we believe that each performance is unique. No one can perfectly replicate the first performance of

Tchaikovsky’s nutcracker, no matter how many times it has been performed. I also believe Mrs. Ellis should

describe to her students (if she has not already) why a piece of music is important to the people who created it. 



                                                                                  References 

Koops, L.H. (2010). "Can't We Just Change the Words?": The Role of Authenticity in Culturally Informed Music Education. Music Educators Journal, 97(23), 23-28. doi: 10.1177/0027432110376892

https://youtu.be/UHPr7efX5Y8