Joseph Jordania, Georgian-Australian musicologist and academic

Joseph Jordania: A Pioneering Ethnomusicologist and Evolutionary Musicologist

Joseph Jordania (Georgian: იოსებ ჟორდანია), born on February 12, 1954, and sometimes seen under the transliterated spelling of Joseph Zhordania, is a distinguished Australian-Georgian academic. He is widely recognized as an influential ethnomusicologist, evolutionary musicologist, and professor, whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of music's role in human development.

Revolutionizing the Understanding of Human Choral Singing

Professor Jordania is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking model concerning the origins of human choral singing, viewed within the broader context of human evolution. His influential "active defence" hypothesis proposes that coordinated group singing, particularly loud, rhythmic vocalizations, served as a crucial strategy for early humans. This collective vocal display would have been used to intimidate predators and rival groups, fostering group cohesion and enhancing survival. This theory challenges traditional views by positing a primary evolutionary role for music beyond mere ritual or aesthetic expression, linking it directly to fundamental aspects of human behaviour and survival.

Key Academic Affiliations and Foundational Roles

• As an Honorary Fellow of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the prestigious University of Melbourne, Professor Jordania contributes to a vibrant academic environment dedicated to advanced musical research and performance.
• He serves as the Head of the Foreign Department of the International Research Centre for Traditional Polyphony at the Tbilisi State Conservatory in Georgia. This role highlights his deep commitment to preserving and studying traditional musical heritage.

Furthermore, Joseph Jordania was one of the visionary founders of the International Research Centre for Traditional Polyphony in Georgia. This institution plays a vital role in documenting, researching, and promoting the rich heritage of Georgian traditional polyphonic singing, which was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, underscoring its profound cultural significance.

Expansive Interdisciplinary Academic Interests

Professor Jordania's academic curiosity spans a remarkably broad and interdisciplinary range, reflecting his holistic approach to understanding human culture and evolution:

Musical Evolution and Cultural Distribution:

His research delves into the worldwide distribution of choral polyphonic traditions, exploring their historical development and cultural significance. He also investigates the fundamental origins of choral singing and the evolutionary roots of rhythm, crucial elements for human musicality.

Human Morphology and Behaviour:

Jordania examines the evolutionary origins of human physical form and complex social behaviours, seeking to understand how these factors intertwined with the development of music and culture.

Cognitive Science and Development:

His interests extend to cross-cultural studies of phenomena like stuttering and dyslexia, as well as the intricate processes involved in children's acquisition of phonological systems. He also explores the fascinating cognitive threshold that delineates animal and human cognitive abilities, often through the lens of sound and communication.

Primary Expertise in Georgian and Caucasian Traditional Music

At the core of his extensive research lies a profound expertise in Georgian and Caucasian traditional music, particularly vocal polyphony. This deep specialization allows him to bring unparalleled insight into the complex structures, historical contexts, and cultural significance of these unique musical forms, which are renowned for their intricate harmonies and ancient lineage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph Jordania

• What are Joseph Jordania's main fields of study?

  Joseph Jordania is primarily known as an ethnomusicologist and evolutionary musicologist, focusing on the origins of human music, especially choral singing, within the context of human evolution and cross-cultural studies of traditional polyphony.

• What is the "active defence" hypothesis?

  The "active defence" hypothesis, proposed by Jordania, suggests that human choral singing evolved as a collective vocal display used by early humans to intimidate predators or rival groups, thus serving a crucial role in group cohesion and survival.

• What is his connection to Georgian traditional music?

  Professor Jordania is an Australian-Georgian scholar whose primary expertise lies in Georgian and Caucasian traditional music and vocal polyphony. He was also a founder of the International Research Centre for Traditional Polyphony in Georgia, dedicated to this musical heritage.

• What is the International Research Centre for Traditional Polyphony?

  It is a research institution at the Tbilisi State Conservatory in Georgia, co-founded by Jordania, focused on studying, preserving, and promoting Georgian traditional polyphonic singing, a form of music recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance.