Brian E. Schrag
Degrees
- Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Ethnomusicology, 2005
- M.A. Wheaton College (IL), MA Intercultural Communications, Summa Cum Laude, 1987
- B.S. Brown University, Cognitive Science, Magna Cum Laude, 1984
Current positions
- International Coordinator for Ethnomusicology and the Arts, SIL International (2006– )
- Adjunct Professor, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (2006– )
Other experience
- Ethnomusicology consultant, Cameroon, 2002–2006
- Linguist/Ethnomusicologist, DR Congo, 1992–1998
- Editor, Catalyst & Research Library, 1996–2000
- Editor, EMNews, 1995–1997
- Course developer, "Music and Cross-Cultural Communication," 1990–1992
Membership
- Society for Ethnomusicology
- International Society for Traditional Musics
- International Council of Ethnodoxologists
Language Proficiency
- English native speaker
- French Level 3
- Lingala (DR Congo) Level 2.5
- Mono (DR Congo) Level 2
Research interests
- Indigenous hymnody
- Communication theory
- Revitalization movements
- Cognition
- Applied ethnomusicology
- Africa
Selected publications
Publications in SIL International Bibliography
2007a. Review of Journey of Song: Public Life and Morality in Cameroon by Clare A. Ignatowski. 2006. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. African Music 8(1):114-115.
2007b. “Why Local Arts are Central to Mission.” International Journal of Frontier Missiology 24(4): 199-202.
2005. How Bamiléké Music-Makers Create Culture in Cameroon. Ph.D. dissertation. University of California, Los Angeles.
2003. With Neil Coulter. "Response to 'Ethnomusicology as Tool for the Christian Missionary'." In European Meetings in Ethnomusicology 10: 98-108.
2000. With Kenneth S. Olson. “An overview of Mono phonology.” In Proceedings from the 2nd World Congress of African Linguistics, Leipzig 1997, ed. by H. Ekkehard Wolff and Orin Gensler, 393-409. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.
1998. “Mono Creativity: The Commissioning and Composition of Three Songs.” Research Review (Legon, Ghana) Supplementary Issue No. 10.
1996. “Toward a Generative Analysis of Rhythm: A Review of African Polyphony and Polyrhythm [Simha Arom].” EMNews 5(1).
1994. “Toward a Model for the Evaluation of the Cultural Strength of Various Musics.” Notes on Anthropology and Intercultural Community Work 16:3-14.
1992. “Translating Song Texts as Oral Compositions. ”Notes on Translation 6 (1):44-62.
1989. “Becoming Bi-musical: The Importance And Possibility Of Missionary Involvement In Music.” Missiology 17:311-320.
Online works
2000. “Grooving at the Nexus: The Intersection of African Music and Euro-American Ethnomusicology at UCLA.” UCLA Ethnomusicology Department. Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/Groovin%20at%20the%20Nexus.pdf
Selected papers presented
2007a. “How Musicians Create Culture and Why They're Not God.” Paper presented at the “Celebrate Africa/Jabulani Afrika! Project” symposium, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
2007b. “Performing the Truth: Why Local Arts are Central to Mission.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Orality Network, Orlando, Florida.
2006. “Musical Invigoration of Cultural Dynamism in a Bamiléké Dance Association.” Presented at the annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
2006. With Dan Fitzgerald. “Yeah, but is it any good? The role of criticism in Christian song composition and performance.” Presented at the Global Consultation on Music and Missions, St. Paul, Minnesota.
2003. “What Right Have We to Interfere? Rigor, Integrity, and Grace in the Context of Criticism.” Presented at the Global Consultation on Music and Missions, Fort Worth, Texas.
1999. “Situated Musical Competence: Insights from the Composition of Three Songs in Northwestern Congo.” Presented at the annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Austin, Texas.
1996. “Catalyzing Creativity: Nurturing a Dying Music Through Apprenticeship.” Presented at the Meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Selected Recordings
2007a. Kachamba, Donald and friends. Donald Kachamba at UCLA: Fall 1999. One CD. UCLA Ethnomusicology Publications. ASIN: B000Q36EGK. Vocals, kwela flute, and babatoni (one string base).
2007b. Tidiane-Seck, Cheick, with the UCLA Griot Society and Friends. 2007. West African Music Meets Jazz. One CD. UCLA Ethnomusicology Publications. ASIN B00014SGHO. Vocals.
2006. Various Ngiemboon Musicians. Morceaux Bibliques Choisis I. SIL and PROMOCUL, Yaounde, Cameroon. Recordist, producer.