Includes bibliographical references (p. 363-366) and index.

Ch. 1. What, in the world, is music? -- ch. 2. How music lives: a musicultural approach -- ch. 3. How music works, pt. 1 Rhythm -- ch. 4. How music works, pt. 2 Pitch -- ch. 5. How music works, pt. 3 Dynamics, timbre, and instruments -- ch. 6. How music works, pt. 4 Texture and form -- ch. 7. Indonesian Gamelan music: interlocking rhythms, interlocking worlds -- ch. 8. From Raga to Bollywood: development and intercultural crossings in Indian music -- ch. 9. 'Not the same, but just as nice': traditions and transformations in Irish music -- ch. 10. The river and the path: conversation and collective expression in West African music -- ch. 11. 'See how she moves': musics of Latin America and the "Oye como va" phenomenon -- ch. 12. From Baladi to belly dance: rhythm, dance, and music in Egypt and beyond -- ch.13. A musicultural history of the Chinese Zheng.