معرفی
Marc Gidal is an active Associate Professor of Musicology in the Department of Music within Ramapo College of New Jersey's School of Contemporary Arts, where he has taught since 2010. His office is located in BC-323 with regular office hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:00 PM.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Music/Ethnomusicology from Harvard University, an M.A. in Music/Ethnomusicology from Tufts University, and a B.S. in Religious Studies from the University of Oregon.
- Ph.D., Music/Ethnomusicology, Harvard University
- M.A., Music/Ethnomusicology, Tufts University
- B.S., Religious Studies, University of Oregon
Gidal's research centers on Afro-Brazilian religious music traditions, Brazilian music in diaspora contexts (particularly New York City), and the intersections of music with symbolic boundary theory, globalization, and transnationalism. His work examines how musical practices navigate cultural boundaries within religious communities like Umbanda and Quimbanda, while also exploring jazz fusion phenomena and cosmopolitan musical identities in multicultural settings. He employs ethnographic methodologies to analyze how music functions in immigrant communities and ritual contexts across national borders.
His publication pattern reveals consistent scholarly focus on Brazilian religious music traditions and transnational musical flows since 2004, with increasing emphasis on New York City contexts and symbolic boundary theory. Recent works (2024) extend his research into academic adaptations of Afro-Brazilian religious practices, while maintaining his core interest in how musical expression mediates cultural identity in transnational communities. His scholarship bridges ethnomusicology, religious studies, and diaspora studies with particular attention to Lusophone contexts.
Gidal teaches diverse courses including MUSI 203 (Music in Latin America), MUSI 237 (History of Jazz), MUSI 240 (Music in Asia), MUSI 255 (Music, History and Culture), MUSI 316 (Music, Technology and Media), MUSI 365 (Contemporary Perspectives on Music), and MUSI 450 (Capstone Seminar in Music). His teaching reflects his research interests while providing students with global perspectives on music cultures.
