Category Archives: music

June 15, 2020

Five Things You Should Know About Florence Price

Posted by Charrice Jones
in African American Studies, biography, black studies, music, women | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Five Things You Should Know About Florence Price

Florence B. Price was a composer whose career spanned both the Harlem and Chicago Renaissances, and the first African American woman to gain national recognition for her works. This June, we’re delighted to publish Rae Linda Brown’s biography, The Heart … Continue reading →

June 12, 2020

Black Opera Awarded Irving Lowens Book Award

Posted by Tachel Brown
in African American Studies, awards, biography, music | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Opera Awarded Irving Lowens Book Award

We are pleased to announce Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement by Naomi André has won the Society for American Music‘s Irving Lowens Book Award. From the SAM Bulletin:“Focusing on opera, this monograph explores important questions of how race, class and … Continue reading →

June 10, 2020

Banjo Roots and Branches Awarded American Musical Instrument Society’s Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize

Posted by Tachel Brown
in African American Studies, awards, bluegrass, folklore, music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Banjo Roots and Branches Awarded American Musical Instrument Society’s Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize

We are pleased to announce Banjo Roots and Branches edited by Robert B. Winans has won the American Musical Instrument Society’s Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize. The Nicholas Bessaraboff Prize is awarded annually for the most distinguished book-length work in English which … Continue reading →

December 20, 2019

1619 Project Reading List: Black Popular Music

Posted by Tiffany Tzeng
in 1619 Project, African American Studies, american history, black studies, music | Comments Off on 1619 Project Reading List: Black Popular Music

  This August marked the 400th anniversary of slaves arriving in America. To commemorate the anniversary, The New York Times Magazine launched the 1619 Project, a major initiative led by Nikole Hannah-Jones, with the goal of re-framing our understanding of the impact of … Continue reading →

October 21, 2019

Q&A with Sonja Lynn Downing, author of Gamelan Girls

Posted by Tiffany Tzeng
in author commentary, authors, culture, ethnomusicology, music, Q&A | Comments Off on Q&A with Sonja Lynn Downing, author of Gamelan Girls

Sonja Lynn Downing is an an associate professor of ethnomusicology at Lawrence University. She recently answered some questions about her book, Gamelan Girls: Gender, Childhood, and Politics in Balinese Music Ensembles. Q: Why did you decide to write this book? I wanted … Continue reading →

October 14, 2019

Q&A with Vincent L. Stephens, author of Rocking the Closet

Posted by Tiffany Tzeng
in author commentary, culture, gay/lesbian, music, Q&A | Comments Off on Q&A with Vincent L. Stephens, author of Rocking the Closet

Vincent L. Stephens is the director of the Popel Shaw Center for Race & Ethnicity and a contributing faculty member in music at Dickinson College. He is a coeditor of Post Racial America? An Interdisciplinary Study. He recently shared his thoughts on … Continue reading →

October 7, 2019

Celebrating Chicago Blues

Posted by Tiffany Tzeng
in African American Studies, blues, Chicago, culture, ethnomusicology, music | Comments Off on Celebrating Chicago Blues

This fall we have two new books on the Chicago Blues scene that celebrate the city’s incredible musicians and their legacy. Celebrate with us and check out our books on Chicago Blues and some interesting articles in American Music. Blues … Continue reading →

September 23, 2019

Your Foggy Mountain Breakdown Playlist

Posted by michael
in authors, bluegrass, music | Comments Off on Your Foggy Mountain Breakdown Playlist

This month we’re publishing Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: The Making of An American Classic by Thomas Goldsmith. It’s a deep dive into the origins and influence of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” against the backdrop of Scruggs’s musical career. Recorded in … Continue reading →

July 8, 2019

Q&A with Jake Johnson, author of Mormons, Musical Theater, and Belonging in America

Posted by michael
in american history, authors, Mormon Studies, music, Q&A | Tagged | Comments Off on Q&A with Jake Johnson, author of Mormons, Musical Theater, and Belonging in America

Jake Johnson is an assistant professor of musicology in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He recently answered some questions about his new book, Mormons, Musical Theater, and Belonging in America. Q: Why did you decide to … Continue reading →

April 5, 2019

Chinatown Opera Theater in North America awarded Irving Lowens Book Award from SAM

Posted by Heather Gernenz
in announcement, asian american studies, authors, awards, music | Comments Off on Chinatown Opera Theater in North America awarded Irving Lowens Book Award from SAM

We are pleased to announce that Chinatown Opera Theater in North America by Nancy Yunhwa Rao has won the Irving Lowens Book Award from the Society for American Music (SAM). The award was announced at the annual SAM conference, March … Continue reading →