Author Description

A CULTURAL HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC IN THE MODERN AGE A Cultural History of Western Music in the Modern Age covers the period from 1920 to the present, an era which has seen unprecedented global conflict, transnational diplomacy, intercultural influence, ecological crisis, technological innovation, and collaborative experiments among artists. The extraordinary range of modern Western music – from the disciplinary systems of the Suzuki Method to the esoteric philosophies of Sun Ra, and from the rapid commercialization of audio recordings to the multi-genre soundtracks of Black Lives Matter – offers no single or clear-cut narrative. In order to examine the complex power, scope, and definition of modern music, this volume presents an array of research methods, case studies, and geopolitical snapshots which offer startling insights into the worldwide reach of Western music over the last century. The 6 volume set of the Cultural History of Western Music presents the first comprehensive history from classical antiquity to today, covering all forms and aspects of music and its ever-changing social context. The themes covered in each volume are society; philosophies; politics; exchange; education; popular culture; performance; and technologies. The Cultural Histories Series A Cultural History of Western Music is part of The Cultural Histories Series. Titles are available as hardcover sets for libraries needing just one subject or preferring a tangible reference for their shelves or as part of a fully-searchable digital library. The digital product is available to institutions by annual subscription or on perpetual access via www.bloomsburyculturalhistory.com. Individual volumes for academics and researchers interested in specific historical periods are also available in print or digitally via www.bloomsburycollections.com.