Rouget, Gilbert (1916-2017)

Gilbert Rouget (1916-2017), along with André Schaeffner, is a founding figure of French ethnomusicology. He joined the ethnomusicology department of the Musée de l’Homme in 1942 and became its director in 1965. In 1947, he created a sound recording studio as well as the record editions of the Musée de l’Homme. From 1946 onwards, he led numerous missions in Africa (Middle Congo, Gabon, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Morocco) to collect traditional musical practices combining sound recordings, audiovisuals and photographs. In 1964, with Éric de Dampierre, Michel Leiris and Claude Tardits, he co-founded the book collection “Classiques africains”. With Jean Rouch, he created the audiovisual Center of the EPHE (Vth section) in 1964. In 1968, he set up a collective research programme which led to the creation of the Centre de recherche en ethnomusicologie (Ethnomusicology Research Centre). His work profoundly renewed the question of the relationship between music and anthropology. It addresses issues of ritual, initiation and power, and the relationship between music and trance. In addition to numerous records and documentary films, he is the author of La musique et la transe. Esquisse d’une théorie générale des relations de la musique et de la possession (1980); Un roi africain et sa musique de cour. Chants et danses du palais à Porto-Novo sous le règne de Gbèfa (1996); Afrique Musiquante. Musiciennes et musiciens traditionnels d’Afrique noire au siècle dernier (2014).

Keywords: Ethnomusicology | French Ethnology | 20^th century | Africa | Power | Ritual | Trance | André Schaeffner