We are a new—largely online-based—working group on Asian German Studies in Music within the International Musicological Society (IMS) Global Music History Study Group.

Building on the emerging field of Asian German Studies, this working group focuses on the study of musics from a global history perspective. We define ‘Asian’ and ‘German’ broadly to include the Asian continent and the Indo-Pacific sphere and their peoples in the diasporas, and we consider the German-speaking worlds both in Europe and beyond. In the process, we seek connections and aim to test the boundaries of ‘Asianness’ and ‘Germanness’ by asking questions about the global production and circulation of culture, ideology, and power.

We have begun with a quarterly virtual reading group of both published scholarship and works-in-progress. In time, we envision our activities to include conference panel organisation, study days and/or conferences, and joint publications.

We welcome participation by researchers at all career stages and from all spheres, including by students, scholars from musicology-adjacent disciplines, and arts practitioners. IMS membership is encouraged but not required.

For a list of our ongoing events, please click here.