Prague Soundscapes

by Zuzana Jurková

Overview

Dvorák’s opera Rusalka at the National Theatre. A punk concert in an underground club. The hypnotic chanting of Hare Krishnas joyfully dancing through the streets. These are the sounds of Prague. And in this book, they are the subject of a musical anthropological inquiry.

Prague Soundscapes seeks to understand why in human society—in its behavior, values, and relationships—music is produced and how those who make it listen to it. Based on recent theories of cultural anthropology, this study offers an account of the musical activities of contemporary Prague in different musical genres, cultural spaces, and events. The text is bolstered by color photographs of the musical events, producers, and listeners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788024630533
Publisher:	Karolinum Press
Publication date:	07/15/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	340
File size:	34 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Zuzana Jurková is the head of the Institute for Ethnomusicology at the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University, Prague.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Listening to the music of a city
Listening to the music of a city
Writing about the music of a city, specifically Prague
 
Chapter 2: Music and identity
Music and identity
The myth of Romani music in contemporary Prague
Feng-yün Song Voice Painting
Nowruz, twice in a different way
“Ethnic” music for entertainment
Malanka, the Ukrainian ball
Refufest
What does it mean?
 
Chapter 3: Music and social stratification
Antonín Dvorák: Rusalka
Alan Lomax on music as an indicator of social complexity
The Makropulos Case as a semiotic experience
Lucid dreams of Mr. William Heerlein Lindley
 
Chapter 4: Music and rebellion
Benefest Vol. 1
Face tigers and Stillknox
Rock’n’roll Rebel
Michel Maffesoli on Urban Nomads
Tom Stoppard: Rock ‘n’ Roll
 
Chapter 5: Music as goods
Film Mnága – Happy End
Music as Goods/Business
Creative Commons
Public Seminar of the Czech Radio Council on music program direction of Czech Radio 1
Deti ráje (Children of Paradise) – collective memory as business
Theodor Adorno on popular music and its fetishist character
How to Have a Number One the Easy Way
A Walk along the Royal Road
Prague Castle Concert Pearls of Czech and World Classical Music
 
Chapter 6: Electronic Dance Music
Electronic Dance Music
Loss Tekenos in the Cross Club
History of Electronic Dance Music
Andelka Free Party
Syllabus – Psychedelic Trance and Broken Beatz
Judith Becker on music and trance
Unlocking the groove of habit
 
Chapter 7: Music and spirituality
Hare Krishna Mantra in Prague streets: the sacred, music and trance
The Saint Wenceslas Festival
Thomas Turino on Music as Social Life
Gospel Workshop
 
Summary
References