Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3586
Fax: (626) 969-7419
Email: kbrowne@apu.edu
Kimasi Browne, Ph.D.
Director of Ethnomusicology; Associate Professor of Music
School of Music
Profile
Since joining the Azusa Pacific University faculty in fall 2001 and in addition to his work with the Gospel Choir, Kimasi L. Browne has developed a series called “World Music at APU” that has brought to campus traditional master-musicians from Bulgaria, India, Hong Kong, China, and Mediterranean Italy. He is currently developing an ethnomusicology emphasis of which the first four courses are already being taught: Introduction to World Music, Music of Africa, and Soul Music. New ethnomusicology courses scheduled to begin next year include Music of Latin America, Music of Asia, and a World Music Ensemble. He also teaches the graduate Seminar in Music History II. Kimasi was the director of the Gospel Choir from 2001 to 2006.
Browne has conducted field research in Los Angeles, Detroit, Toronto, Canada, Beijing, China, Sofia, Bulgaria, and in Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Oxfordshire, and Yorkshire, England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland supported by grants from the Institute of American Culture, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for African American Studies, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is a respected international scholar who regularly presents lectures at international conferences on British underground youth culture, African American soul music, and Gospel music. He organized and hosted the first Symposium on African Music in the Church held in March 2004 at APU, featuring Akin Euba, Jacqueline C. DjeDje, and Roberta King. The University of California Press, MRI Press, Fowler Museum of Cultural History, and peer-reviewed journals such as the Intercultural Music, Selected Reports in Ethnomusicology and the Pacific Review of Ethnomusicology have all published Browne's work.
Browne has taught at University of California, Riverside; Whittier College; California State University, Long Beach; and UCLA, where he established and directed the African American Choral Ensemble. Until 2004 he was director of the Gospel Choir at Pomona College in Claremont, and has directed choirs and ensembles in the African American choral traditions at UCLA and in many local churches. He is a composer, arranger, vocalist, pianist, and has recorded with the National Mass Choir of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. He has worked with Smokey Robinson, Brenda Holloway, Carlton Pearson, Darryl Coley, Kim Weston, and V. Michael McKay. Dr. Browne will be on Sabbatical Leave during the spring 2008 semester establishing a new Gospel Choir and teaching American Popular Culture as a Visiting Professor and Ethnomusicologist at China’s Central Conservatory of Music. In addition, he will conduct field research on hybrid music performed on the Long Corridor at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Browne has conducted field research in Los Angeles, Detroit, Toronto, Canada, Beijing, China, Sofia, Bulgaria, and in Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Oxfordshire, and Yorkshire, England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland supported by grants from the Institute of American Culture, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for African American Studies, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is a respected international scholar who regularly presents lectures at international conferences on British underground youth culture, African American soul music, and Gospel music. He organized and hosted the first Symposium on African Music in the Church held in March 2004 at APU, featuring Akin Euba, Jacqueline C. DjeDje, and Roberta King. The University of California Press, MRI Press, Fowler Museum of Cultural History, and peer-reviewed journals such as the Intercultural Music, Selected Reports in Ethnomusicology and the Pacific Review of Ethnomusicology have all published Browne's work.
Browne has taught at University of California, Riverside; Whittier College; California State University, Long Beach; and UCLA, where he established and directed the African American Choral Ensemble. Until 2004 he was director of the Gospel Choir at Pomona College in Claremont, and has directed choirs and ensembles in the African American choral traditions at UCLA and in many local churches. He is a composer, arranger, vocalist, pianist, and has recorded with the National Mass Choir of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. He has worked with Smokey Robinson, Brenda Holloway, Carlton Pearson, Darryl Coley, Kim Weston, and V. Michael McKay. Dr. Browne will be on Sabbatical Leave during the spring 2008 semester establishing a new Gospel Choir and teaching American Popular Culture as a Visiting Professor and Ethnomusicologist at China’s Central Conservatory of Music. In addition, he will conduct field research on hybrid music performed on the Long Corridor at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Education
Ph.D.- Ethnomusicology, UCLA, 2005
C.Phil.- Ethnomusicology, UCLA, 1998
M.A.- Ethnomusicology, UCLA, 1995
B.A.- Music Composition, California State Polytechnic University, 1992
A.A.- Fine Arts (Music), Citrus College, 1989
C.Phil.- Ethnomusicology, UCLA, 1998
M.A.- Ethnomusicology, UCLA, 1995
B.A.- Music Composition, California State Polytechnic University, 1992
A.A.- Fine Arts (Music), Citrus College, 1989
Professional/Scholarly Presentations
Compositions
Call on the Lord for voice, erhu, piano, SAT and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne, Ma Xiaohui, and Jonte Moore; debut performance with the Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir, Darling Library Rotunda, Azusa Pacific University, February 28, 2007
The following are only a sampling of Browne's extensive composition credentials.
The Most Important Thing in Life for SATB and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Pomona College Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, Pomona College, Claremont, 2002
I Will Not War (After the Flesh) for SATB and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Munson Chapel, Azusa Pacific University, 2002
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing composed by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn; unaccompanied SATB and rehearsal piano arranged by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Pomona College Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, Pomona College, Claremont, 2002
Presentations
“Multiple Identities and Overlapping Experience: A Brief History of Motown and Rare Soul Music in Britain,” British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual meeting, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2002
Commentary and Response to "Semiotic Theory and the Limits of Computer Mediated Learning;" and "Technical and Professional Communication Seals the Divide between the Two Cultures." Oxford Round Table: "Arts and Science." Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, 2006
"Negotiating Faith and Belief / Scholarship and Pedagogy: The Emerging Presence of Ethnomusicology in the Southern California Christian Academy." A position statement presented as part of a four-member Roundtable to the 51st annual meeting of the Society of Ethnomusicology. Honolulu, Hawaii, 2006
"The Intercultural Moment: Experiencing the Impartation of Gospel Music in Beijing, China." A Seminar presented to the 9th Biennial Symposium and Festival of the Center for Intercultural Music Arts (CIMA). In collaboration with Kai Scott Liu (China). Facultad de Ciencias de la Educaccion, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, 2006
“Multiple Identities and Overlapping Experience: A Brief History of Motown and Rare Soul Music in Britain,” British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual meeting, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2002
"African American Soul Music in Underground Great Britain: A Brief History of Northern Soul." Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting, Miami, Florida, 2003
"Cultural Identity: Production, Retention, and Contestation," annual meeting, Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern Calfornia Chapter, Loyola Marymount University, 2003
"Hip Hop World Part 2," annual meeting, Soceity for Ethnomusicology, Southern California Chapter, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
"My Research on Northern Soul," A presentation to A World of Music at the invitation of Dr. David Kopplin. Alumni Professor of the Day, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Department of Music, 2002
Publications
"'Identity, Scene and Material Culture: The Place of African American Rare Soul Music on the British Northern Soul Scene." Published online at www.soul-source.co.uk
"'Soul or Nothing:' The Formation of Cultural Identity on the British Northern Soul Scene." Ph. D. Dissertation. Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Publications, 2006
"Marvin Gaye: Culture Bearer of an African American Musical Tradition." Fourth Annual Tribute to Marvin Gaye. Detroit: Motown Historical Museum, pp. 9-18, 1993
"Praise the Lord!: Gospel Music in Washington, D.C." The World of Music (Germany, forthcoming), 2004
"The Intercultural Nexus Between the Music of Motown and the Beatles." Intercultural Music,Volume 4, ed. Robert Mawuena Kwami and Cynthia Tse Kimberlin. London: MRI Press/Centre for Intercultural Music Arts, pp. 57-71, 2001
View All Professional/Scholarly Presentations
Call on the Lord for voice, erhu, piano, SAT and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne, Ma Xiaohui, and Jonte Moore; debut performance with the Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir, Darling Library Rotunda, Azusa Pacific University, February 28, 2007
The following are only a sampling of Browne's extensive composition credentials.
The Most Important Thing in Life for SATB and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Pomona College Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, Pomona College, Claremont, 2002
I Will Not War (After the Flesh) for SATB and rhythm; composed by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Azusa Pacific University Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Munson Chapel, Azusa Pacific University, 2002
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing composed by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn; unaccompanied SATB and rehearsal piano arranged by Kimasi L. Browne; debut performance by the Pomona College Gospel Choir, Fall Concert, Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music, Pomona College, Claremont, 2002
Presentations
“Multiple Identities and Overlapping Experience: A Brief History of Motown and Rare Soul Music in Britain,” British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual meeting, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2002
Commentary and Response to "Semiotic Theory and the Limits of Computer Mediated Learning;" and "Technical and Professional Communication Seals the Divide between the Two Cultures." Oxford Round Table: "Arts and Science." Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, 2006
"Negotiating Faith and Belief / Scholarship and Pedagogy: The Emerging Presence of Ethnomusicology in the Southern California Christian Academy." A position statement presented as part of a four-member Roundtable to the 51st annual meeting of the Society of Ethnomusicology. Honolulu, Hawaii, 2006
"The Intercultural Moment: Experiencing the Impartation of Gospel Music in Beijing, China." A Seminar presented to the 9th Biennial Symposium and Festival of the Center for Intercultural Music Arts (CIMA). In collaboration with Kai Scott Liu (China). Facultad de Ciencias de la Educaccion, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, 2006
“Multiple Identities and Overlapping Experience: A Brief History of Motown and Rare Soul Music in Britain,” British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual meeting, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2002
"African American Soul Music in Underground Great Britain: A Brief History of Northern Soul." Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting, Miami, Florida, 2003
"Cultural Identity: Production, Retention, and Contestation," annual meeting, Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern Calfornia Chapter, Loyola Marymount University, 2003
"Hip Hop World Part 2," annual meeting, Soceity for Ethnomusicology, Southern California Chapter, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004
"My Research on Northern Soul," A presentation to A World of Music at the invitation of Dr. David Kopplin. Alumni Professor of the Day, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Department of Music, 2002
Publications
"'Identity, Scene and Material Culture: The Place of African American Rare Soul Music on the British Northern Soul Scene." Published online at www.soul-source.co.uk
"'Soul or Nothing:' The Formation of Cultural Identity on the British Northern Soul Scene." Ph. D. Dissertation. Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Publications, 2006
"Marvin Gaye: Culture Bearer of an African American Musical Tradition." Fourth Annual Tribute to Marvin Gaye. Detroit: Motown Historical Museum, pp. 9-18, 1993
"Praise the Lord!: Gospel Music in Washington, D.C." The World of Music (Germany, forthcoming), 2004
"The Intercultural Nexus Between the Music of Motown and the Beatles." Intercultural Music,Volume 4, ed. Robert Mawuena Kwami and Cynthia Tse Kimberlin. London: MRI Press/Centre for Intercultural Music Arts, pp. 57-71, 2001
View All Professional/Scholarly Presentations
Professional Experience
Academic Experience
Vocal Coach, Azusa Pacific University, 2001-2004
Director of Gospel Choir, Azusa Pacific University, 2001-2004
Director, Pomona College Gospel Choir, Pomona College, 2000-2004
Director of African-American Music Ensemble, UCLA, 1993-1997
Industry Experience
Conductor, Gospel Choral Workshop, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China, 2005
Conductor, Gospel Music Workshop, Irish World Music Centre, Limerick, Republic of Ireland, 1998
Conductor, producer, author, and choral director, African American Heritage Celebration: "Unity in Black and White," Faith Community Church, Covina, 1995
Ministerial/Para-church Experience
Choral Director, Faith Community Church, West Covina, 1993-1997
Director/founder, Faith Community Gospel Ensemble, West Covina, 1993-1997
Vocal Coach, Azusa Pacific University, 2001-2004
Director of Gospel Choir, Azusa Pacific University, 2001-2004
Director, Pomona College Gospel Choir, Pomona College, 2000-2004
Director of African-American Music Ensemble, UCLA, 1993-1997
Industry Experience
Conductor, Gospel Choral Workshop, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China, 2005
Conductor, Gospel Music Workshop, Irish World Music Centre, Limerick, Republic of Ireland, 1998
Conductor, producer, author, and choral director, African American Heritage Celebration: "Unity in Black and White," Faith Community Church, Covina, 1995
Ministerial/Para-church Experience
Choral Director, Faith Community Church, West Covina, 1993-1997
Director/founder, Faith Community Gospel Ensemble, West Covina, 1993-1997
Professional Involvement and Accomplishments
Honors, Awards, Recognition
2007 Diversity Grant - Institutional travel award to Ghana, Azusa Pacific University. Office of University Diversity and Assessment
2006 Induction and membership. The Oxford Round Table. Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
2002 Alumni Professor of the Day, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, Ethnomusicology
2000-2001 Lecturer Faculty Merit Award, College of Liberal Arts, California State University, Long Beach
1998-1999 Dorothy Danforth Dissertation Fellowship, UCLA
1997-1998 Institute of American Cultures Research Grant (Support for fieldwork in England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland)
1997-1998 UCLA Center for African American Studies Research Grant (Support for fieldwork in England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland)
1994-1998 Project 88 Doctoral Fellowship, UCLA
1994-1995 The William Grandvil Carter Memorial Award in Ethnomusicology and African Studies, UCLA
1994-1995 Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Fellowship, UCLA
1993-1994 Chancellor's Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UCLA
1992 Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UCLA
Associations, Boards, Committees
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE)
Centre for Intercultural Music Arts (CIMA)
College Music Society (CMS)
Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA)
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM)
Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern California Chapter (SEMSCC)
Oxford University Society (OUS)
2007 Diversity Grant - Institutional travel award to Ghana, Azusa Pacific University. Office of University Diversity and Assessment
2006 Induction and membership. The Oxford Round Table. Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
2002 Alumni Professor of the Day, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, Ethnomusicology
2000-2001 Lecturer Faculty Merit Award, College of Liberal Arts, California State University, Long Beach
1998-1999 Dorothy Danforth Dissertation Fellowship, UCLA
1997-1998 Institute of American Cultures Research Grant (Support for fieldwork in England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland)
1997-1998 UCLA Center for African American Studies Research Grant (Support for fieldwork in England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland)
1994-1998 Project 88 Doctoral Fellowship, UCLA
1994-1995 The William Grandvil Carter Memorial Award in Ethnomusicology and African Studies, UCLA
1994-1995 Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Fellowship, UCLA
1993-1994 Chancellor's Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UCLA
1992 Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UCLA
Associations, Boards, Committees
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE)
Centre for Intercultural Music Arts (CIMA)
College Music Society (CMS)
Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA)
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM)
Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern California Chapter (SEMSCC)
Oxford University Society (OUS)
Expertise
African Music Secular and Sacred Popular Culture (Gospel, R&B, Motown, Soul Music)
British Underground Youth Culture (Northern and Rare Soul)
Ethnomusicology in the Christian Academy
Gospel Music
Graduate Music History, Music Fundamentals
World Music
Note: This information is current for the 2008-09 academic year. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
