Intertwining pathways of history and context in understanding Australian music: A case study of Pemungkah by Lotring

Through the example of three pieces of music, this paper investigates research into music's backgrounds, travels, and geographical and historical contexts as a pathway to understanding music. In this way, this paper proposes that in-depth analysis of how pieces of music relate to each other across time and place leads to increased understanding, not only of the specific examples of music selected and their composers, but of music as historical process, as cultural object, and as the focus of analysis. As analysis of music, study of the history of music, and investigation of music's cultural contexts are all regular components of music education, this paper addresses curriculum issues leading to musical understanding.