First published 2007
Renowned critic Edward W. Said takes readers on a journey through music's power to transcend borders. From the concert halls of New York to the streets of Cairo, he reveals how classical, folk, and popular genres shape identity, politics, and culture worldwide. With piercing insight, Said examines how marginalized voices assert their place in the musical canon, challenging the Western elite. At the heart of this virtuosic work lies a profound meditation on music's ability to both divide and unite humanity.
Genres: non-fiction, music, criticism, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: challenging-the-elite, marginalized-voices
Period: 20th Century
344 pages · Paperback · Columbia University Press