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 The
Companion to Irish Traditional Music
by Fintan Vallely (Editor)
The Companion
to Irish Traditional Music represents a landmark in
the study of one of the Western world's most universally recognizable
forms of cultural expression. This ambitious volume comes at a
time when Irish music and culture is experiencing a genuine renaissance,
as evidenced by the popularity of such phenomena as Riverdance.
Only a handful
of books have attempted to present an overall picture of Irish
traditional music, and many of these are now outdated or out of
print. Since the late 1960s, the traditional music scene has changed
radically: the commercial life of traditional music has mushroomed,
bringing with it tremendous growth in what might be called music
tourism. At the same time, an energetic revivalism has taken hold,
the result of a wealth of new approaches to playing and spirited
debate over the influence of traditionalism in Irish music.
Fintan Vallely
has harnessed the expertise of dozens of specialists who between
them present a remarkably comprehensive picture of the field,
incorporating ancient history, past ideals, and contemporary ideologies.
The companion presents A-Z descriptions of individuals, traditions,
and instruments, as well as an analysis of the modern history
of traditional music-making. Biographical entries cover significant
musicians and composers and central themes; central themes within
traditional music, such as the oral tradition, the Bardic system,
and the politics of Irish music, are given extended entries...
(Amazon.com)
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