Western Classical Music as a Cultural Practice within the Algerian Context A Field Study at the Central Institute of Music, Dance, and Theatre -Algiers-

Abstract

This study analyzes the practice of Western classical music in Algerian society as an artistic form rooted in a non-local cultural reference. It examines the social and cultural motivations behind choosing this genre, the representations held by its practitioners, and its relation to cultural identity. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students and parents at the Central Institute of Music, selected purposively. Analysis shows that practicing Western classical music results from the interaction between family-acquired and educationally shaped dispositions, contributing to a composite musical identity that intersects with, rather than replaces, the original cultural identity, while providing practitioners with a sense of symbolic distinction.