Final answer:
The four branches of musicology include ethnomusicology, historical musicology, systematic musicology, and cognitive musicology. Ethnomusicologists study music's social and cultural contexts, while historical musicologists explore its evolution through time. Three key musical parameters are rhythm, melody, and timbre.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four main branches of musicology include ethnomusicology, historical musicology, systematic musicology, and cognitive musicology. I will describe the first two.
Ethnomusicology is a field that studies music within its sociocultural context. Researchers in this field conduct ethnographic fieldwork, often immersing themselves in the music-making activities of different cultures to understand the social practices and cultural significance of music. They may record and analyze musical performances, interview musicians and audience members, and examine how music is intertwined with cultural identity and social relations.
Historical musicology examines the history of music, exploring how music has evolved over time. This field involves analyzing manuscripts, studying the lives of composers, and looking at the historical influence of musical works. Researchers determine how and why certain styles developed, how historical events have shaped music, and vice versa.
Three musical parameters are rhythm, melody, and timbre. Rhythm relates to the timing of notes and beats in music, melody refers to the succession of musical tones that are perceived as a single entity, and timbre describes the unique quality or color of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.