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E-book From Mummers to Madness : A Social History of Popular Music in England, c.1770s to c.1970s

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Penilaian

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The importance of music is difficult to overstate. As historian R W Malcolmson noted, it was the most accessible and democratic of the creative arts, with the ability to give expression to a range of fundamental emotions.4 From a different perspective, musicologist, Philip Tagg emphasised how music and dance are ‘particularly suited to expressing the affective and corporeal identity of individuals and communities in relationship to themselves and each other, and to their social, as well as their physical surroundings,’ and stressed the need to understand music in its specific socio-cultural environment.5 Almost everyone could sing or dance – albeit with varying degrees of skill – and many people were competent performers on fiddles and flutes, cornets and concertinas. The extent of informal singing and dancing can never be measured with accuracy, but a wide range of anecdotal evidence bears witness to the continuing popularity of singing round the piano at home or a ‘knees up’ in the local ale house, pub or club. Further, a growing number of people could experience music at various venues, from travelling shows to impromptu penny gaffs, from music halls and variety theatres. as well as in dancing booths, dancing saloons and later dance halls. In the twentieth century the growth of the record industry, the boom in film (especially musicals) and the advent of radio and television extended the availability of popular music in increasingly accessible forms. Individually, singing, dancing or playing, provided a means of expressing a range of often profound emotions, of voicing aspirations or fears, of commenting on and coping with the vicissitudes of everyday life, and of developing creative skills and the sense of satisfaction and identity that followed therefrom. Above all, music and music-making were sources of enjoyment – a fact that over-serious historians too easily ignore. Collectively, these activities could create a sense of identity and give meaning to an otherwise hostile or bewildering world through a range of celebrations – familial and communal – which, through affirmation or condemnation, could either consolidate the bonds that held together local communities or help to bring about change. The ‘roles’ of music were many and varied, its ‘purposes’ equally diverse, and, as often as not, subject to dispute. What cannot be denied is the ubiquity of popular music and music-making and its far-reaching significance in day-to-day life.

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Ketersediaan

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

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No. Panggil

780.72 TAY f

Penerbit

London : University of Huddersfield Press., 2021

Deskripsi Fisik

452 hlm

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

9781862181939

Klasifikasi

780.72

Tipe Isi

text

Tipe Media

computer

Tipe Pembawa

online resource

Edisi

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Subjek

Musicology

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

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Versi lain/terkait

Lampiran Berkas

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