Throughout this week’s assigned readings, viewings, and listenings, Dr. Abby Smith Rumsey emphasizes the critical task of deciding which digital content to preserve amidst the vast amounts of data generated in the digital age. She discusses the criteria for determining which memories and cultural artifacts should be prioritized for digital preservation, likening this challenge to the curation of the Voyager Golden Record. This iconic project required curators to select a limited amount of information to represent humanity and Earth to potential extraterrestrial civilizations, encapsulating human culture, knowledge, and diversity within the constraints of space and technology.
Smith underscores the importance of representing a broad and inclusive range of cultural expressions in digital archives when discussing cultural heritage preservation. The Golden Record’s curators aimed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of Earth’s cultures, including music, images, and sounds from diverse human societies, to convey the richness of human civilization.
Smith also raises ethical questions about who decides what to preserve digitally, how privacy is managed, and the potential biases in the selection process. The creation of the Golden Record involved similar ethical considerations, requiring curators to make subjective decisions about what aspects of humanity to include and exclude, balancing scientific, cultural, and philosophical elements.
In light of these considerations, I used the following criteria for my curation:
- Global Cultural Representation: I included music from diverse geographical regions and cultures, such as Africa (Senegal), Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, England), North America (Mexico, Navajo, USA), South America (Peru), Asia (India), and Oceania (New Guinea).
- Diversity of Musical Traditions: My selection encompasses a wide range of musical styles and traditions, from indigenous and folk music to classical and blues.
- Variety of Vocal and Instrumental Styles: Both vocal performances (e.g., Bulgarian folk song, Indian raga) and instrumental pieces (e.g., Senegalese percussion, Beethoven’s symphony) are included.
- Cultural Significance: I chose selections that represent important cultural practices or rituals, such as the Navajo Night Chant and the Peruvian wedding song.
- Uniqueness of Sound: I offered a diverse range of sonic experiences, from complex orchestral works to simple, raw recordings of indigenous music.
These criteria were designed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of Earth’s musical diversity, balancing cultural representation with musical variety and historical significance. Through my selection, I aimed to showcase the breadth of human musical expression across different cultures, time periods, and styles.
My curated list:
- Senegal, percussion, recorded by Charles Duvelle. 2:08
- Mexico, “El Cascabel,” performed by Lorenzo Barcelata and the Mariachi México.
- New Guinea, men’s house song, recorded by Robert MacLennan.
- Bulgaria, “Izlel je Delyo Hagdutin,” sung by Valya Balkanska.
- Navajo Indians, Night Chant, recorded by Willard Rhodes.
- Peru, wedding song, recorded by John Cohen.
- India, raga, “Jaat Kahan Ho,” sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar. 3:30
- “Dark Was the Night,” written and performed by Blind Willie Johnson.
- Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, First Movement, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer, conductor.
- Holborne, Paueans, Galliards, Almains and Other Short Aeirs, “The Fairie Round,” performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London.
Reference:
Brown University. (2017, July 11). Abby Smith Rumsey: “Digital memory: What can we afford to lose?” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrahqg9ZMc
Smith Rumsey, A. (1999, February). Why digitize? Council on Library and Information Resources. Retrieved August 12, 2022.