Cultural Exchange
Consider the case of Colin McPhee
Whose ethnomusicology
Led to composing with colors and forms
Based on Asian island norms.
This kind of thing is no longer PC
(To borrow a gamelan’s timbre, e.g.),
But back in the day the appeal of exotic
Colors, and rhythms, and forms was hypnotic.
McPhee showed the music of Bali to Britten,
Who liked what he heard, in a word, he was smitten,
And thus Curlew River came to be written
