11/4/23

Ethnomusicology of a European Composer

In just a few months, a new book will be published by Mikolaj Rykowski (vice rector, Paderewski Academy of Music, Poznan, Poland) as the fourth volume in Deep Soundings: The Lexington Series in Historical Ethnomusicology (Lexington Books, Rowman & Littlefield).


This book applies the theoretical concept music glocalization and methods from historical ethnomusicology to bring unprecedented insights into the life, times, and social milieu of European composer Franz Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924), who experienced great success in the USA as well as central Europe. The book promises to be a useful model for others who seek to apply an ethnomusicological perspective to western art music.


 

Book description:

Music Glocalization and the Composer: The Case of Franz Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924) examines the life and compositions of composer Franz Xaver Scharwenka. Mikołaj Rykowski argues that Scharwenka held the ability to function on a global scale relatively early in music history, founding conservatories in Berlin and New York, becoming one of the first artists to record music using cutting-edge audio technology of his time, namely the Welte-Mignon rolls, and by staging his own opera at The Met. Using a relatively new methodological perspective called music glocalization, Rykowski enables us to explore the composer's cultural roots in Poland and observe how the nineteenth century global sense of nationality influenced his musical output.

 

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