The Hidden Musicians: Music-Making in an English Town (Music / Culture)

A classic ethnography reveals the worlds of amateur musicians. Back in print with a new preface. A landmark in the study of music and culture, this acclaimed volume documents the remarkable scope of amateur music-making in the English town of Milton Keynes. It presents in vivid detail the contrasting yet overlapping worlds of classical orchestras, church choirs, brass bands, amateur operatic societies, and amateur bands playing jazz, rock, folk, and country. Notable for its contribution to wider theoretical debates and its influential challenge to long-held assumptions about music and how to study it, the book focuses on the practices rather than the texts or theory of music, rejecting the idea that only selected musical traditions, "great names," or professional musicians are worth studying. This opens the door to the invisible work put in by thousands of local people of diverse backgrounds, and how the pathways creatively trodden by amateur musicians have something to tell us about both urban living and what it is to be human. Now with a new preface by the author, this long-awaited reissue of The Hidden Musicians will bring its insights and innovations to a new generation of students and scholars. Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of illustrations -- Preface to the 2007 edition -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- List of abbreviations -- 1 Introductory -- 1 The existence and study of local music -- 2 'Amateur' and 'professional' musicians -- 3 Introduction to Milton Keynes and its music -- 2 Musical worlds in Milton Keynes -- 4 The classical music world at the local level -- 5 The brass band world -- 6 The folk music world -- 7 The world of musical theatre -- 8 Jazz -- 9 The country and western world -- 10 Rock and pop -- 3 Contrasts and comparisons. 11 Learning music -- 12 Performances and their conditions -- 13 Composition, creativity and performance -- 14 Plural worlds -- 4 The organisation and work of local music -- 15 Music in the home and school -- 16 The churches and music -- 17 Club and pub music -- 18 Working at it: organisation and administration in music groups -- the case of the Sherwood Choir -- 19 Small working bands and their organisation -- 20 Resources, rewards and support -- 5 The significance of local music -- 21 Pathways in urban living -- 22 Music, society, humanity -- Appendix A note on methods and presentation -- Notes. "A landmark in the study of music and culture, this acclaimed volume documents the remarkable scope of amateur music-making in the English town of Milton Keynes. It presents in vivid detail the contrasting yet overlapping worlds of classical orchestras, church choirs, brass bands, amateur operatic societies, and amateur bands playing jazz, rock, folk, and country. Notable for its contribution to wider theoretical debates and its influential challenge to long-held assumptions about music and how to study it, the book focuses on the practices rather than the texts or theory of music, rejecting the idea that only selected musical traditions, "great names," or professional musicians are worth studying. This opens the door to the invisible work put in by thousands of local people of diverse backgrounds, and how the pathways creatively trodden by amateur musicians have something to tell us about both urban living and what it is to be human. Now with a new preface by the author, this long-awaited reissue of The Hidden Musicians will bring its insights and innovations to a new generation of students and scholars."--Back cover

A landmark in the study of music and culture, this acclaimed volume documents the remarkable scope of amateur music-making in the English town of Milton Keynes. It presents in vivid detail the contrasting yet overlapping worlds of classical orchestras, church choirs, brass bands, amateur operatic societies, and amateur bands playing jazz, rock, folk, and country. Notable for its contribution to wider theoretical debates and its influential challenge to long-held assumptions about music and how to study it, the book focuses on the practices rather than the texts or theory of music, rejecting the idea that only selected musical traditions, "great names," or professional musicians are worth studying. This opens the door to the invisible work put in by thousands of local people of diverse backgrounds, and how the pathways creatively trodden by amateur musicians have something to tell us about both urban living and what it is to be human. Now with a new preface by the author, this long-awaited reissue of The Hidden Musicians will bring its insights and innovations to a new generation of students and scholars.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of illustrations -- Preface to the 2007 edition -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- List of abbreviations -- 1 Introductory -- 1 The existence and study of local music -- 2 'Amateur' and 'professional' musicians -- 3 Introduction to Milton Keynes and its music -- 2 Musical worlds in Milton Keynes -- 4 The classical music world at the local level -- 5 The brass band world -- 6 The folk music world -- 7 The world of musical theatre -- 8 Jazz -- 9 The country and western world -- 10 Rock and pop -- 3 Contrasts and comparisons.;A classic ethnography reveals the worlds of amateur musicians. Back in print with a new preface. This study of local music-making in the modern English town of Milton Keynes documents the activities of amateur groups such as the orchestra, choirs, brass bands, Gilbert and Sullivan societies, and musicians playing in the various popular fields such as jazz, rock and country and western. Ruth Finnegan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 358-369) And Index.