Changes and Chances in Ethnomusicological Fieldwork

Navigating the Loss of a Research Partner

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the death of a research partner in long-term (ethnomusicological) fieldwork, exploring its effects on researchers and potential methodological consequences, transformations, and opportunities that arise regarding the research process. The loss of a research partner is a rarely discussed topic across ethnomusicology and related disciplines. I reflect on the challenges of navigating such a loss in qualitative fieldwork. I thereby acknowledge researchers in their emotional dimensions, dealing with grief and seeking ways to both personally process the loss and sustain the long-term research endeavor.

Drawing on my work with the musical legacy of singer Ruža Nikolić-Lakatos (1945–2022), who was the long-term research partner of my superior, Ursula Hemetek, I use this case study to provide firsthand insights into the consequences of a research partner’s passing. I thereby identify four key areas of transformation following such a loss: (1) the reconfiguration of relationships with the deceased’s family and community, (2) the re-evaluation of archival materials, (3) the development of experimental methodologies to represent and honor the research partner’s legacy, and (4) the evolving role of the researcher, who may become a “spokesperson” or recognized expert on the deceased research partner’s work.

By integrating personal reflections and engaging with scholarly literature on similar experiences, I challenge the perception of fieldwork as a predictable process. I argue that the loss of a long-term research partner is not merely a disruption but may in fact become an integral part of the research process, posing both emotional and methodological challenges. Rather than viewing a research partner’s death as only an unforeseen, often tragic endpoint, I propose that it can serve as a catalytic event, opening new possibilities for scholarly inquiry and engagement.