With her usual combination of erudition, innovation, and spirited prose, Susan McClary reexamines the concept of musical convention in this fast-moving and refreshingly accessible book. Exploring the ways that shared musical practices transmit social knowledge, "Conventional Wisdom" offers an account of our own cultural moment in terms of two dominant traditions: tonality and blues. McClary looks at musical history from new and unexpected angles and moves easily across a broad range of repertoires - the blues, eighteenth ...
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With her usual combination of erudition, innovation, and spirited prose, Susan McClary reexamines the concept of musical convention in this fast-moving and refreshingly accessible book. Exploring the ways that shared musical practices transmit social knowledge, "Conventional Wisdom" offers an account of our own cultural moment in terms of two dominant traditions: tonality and blues. McClary looks at musical history from new and unexpected angles and moves easily across a broad range of repertoires - the blues, eighteenth-century tonal music, late Beethoven, and rap.As one of the most influential trailblazers in contemporary musical understanding, McClary once again moves beyond the borders of the 'purely musical' into the larger world of history and society, and beyond the idea of a socially stratified core canon toward a musical pluralism. Those who know McClary only as a feminist writer will discover her many other sides, but not at the expense of gender issues, which are smoothly integrated into the general argument. In considering the need for a different way of telling the story of Western music, "Conventional Wisdom" bravely tackles big issues concerning classical, popular, and postmodern repertoires and their relations to the broader musical worlds that create and enjoy them.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Hardcover This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. No Dust Jacket A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
This fantastic book by headline-making musicologist Susan McClary is the book form of a series of lectures that she delivered some years ago. Never afraid of a bit of controversy, McClary attempts to approach music history in a rather taboo, postmodern way. She parallels so-called "classical music" with the development of blues/r&b and attempts to legitimize contemporary and popular musics (including Public Enemy). She looks at the development of music in a way that academia tends to shy away from, and the results are quite refreshing. You may not agree with everything that she says, but then again, you may be sold. Either way you'll be glad you considered what she has to say. I recommend this book because it is incredibly thought provoking and a very easy to read. Unlike many of her colleagues, McClary doesn't need to use a cripplingly large (and verbose) vocabulary to make her points. A definite must read for anyone interested in music!!!
