ABSTRACT
Despite the wealth of goods that East and Southeast Asian countries export to global markets, music from these areas is probably the least familiar of all popular world music to general audiences outside the region. Ironically, the area’s traditional genres, particularly those from Indonesia, Japan, and China, are a major focus for ethnomusicologists and world music enthusiasts. Many traditional musicians, such as Tuvan throat-singer Kongar-Ol Ondar (1962-2013), have taken advantage of this outside interest by “updating” their performances, creating captivating music that mixes the most modern technological toys with some of the most ancient sounds on the planet.
