| Overview
of Project
POPULAR music has been a major force in the
world since the nineteenth century. With the advent of electronic
and advanced technology, it has become ubiquitous. This is the
first comprehensive reference work on popular music that goes
beyond the West and encompasses the world – essential in a globalized
era where far flung regional and ethnic styles collide to form
new hybrids.
The definition of popular music is an issue that continues to
be debated and is of clear importance to the scope of these
volumes. In their instructions to contributors, the editors
resisted the temptation to impose a precise definition, recognizing
that the terms ‘popular’ ‘classical’ and ‘folk’ are discursive
in character and are changing products of historical, social
and cultural forces rather than terms which distinguish easily
demarcated boundaries. The principal test for including music
as popular has been whether it has been so regarded by communities
of practitioners or consumers; thus, ‘classical’ music is included
if it has been popular in character and ‘folk’ is included if
it has reached beyond being an exclusively oral-aural phenomenon
with an exclusively local audience.
More than 250 contributors - leading popular music scholars,
journalists, musicians and other music professionals - have
been commissioned to write definitive articles for the first
two volumes and hundreds more are participating in the creation
of the complete Encyclopedia. Entries are ‘encyclopedic’ – documented
and authoritative – and include extensive bibliographies, discographical
references, discographies, sheet music listings and visual recordings.
The thematic organization of these volumes makes them distinctive
among popular music reference works.
PART 1
Volume I: Media, Industry and Society contains
two major sections: ‘Social and Cultural Dimensions’ and ‘The
Industry’. Throughout, entries describe contexts for the practise
and consumption of popular music, including those that are not
themselves musical in character but which are essential for
an understanding of the way in which popular music and society
mutually affect one another.
Click here
to view sample pages from Volume I
Volume II: Performance and Production: comprises
four sections: ‘Performers and Performing’, ‘Musical Production
and Transmission’, ‘Musical Instruments’ and ‘Musical Form and
Practice’.
Click here to view sample pages
from Volume II
PART 2
Volumes III to VII: Locations
are regional volumes organized by continent and are concerned
with the history and practice of popular music in particular
cities or city districts/neighborhoods, cross-border regions,
nation states, and diasporic communities.
Click here to view sample pages
from Volumes III to VII
PART 3
Volumes III-XIII: Genres (Sold as Set) contain entries on the genres of music that have been or currently are popular in countries and communities all over the world.
PART 4
Volumes XIV to IIXX: Biographies Amercas and Caribbean (Sold as Set) contain biographical entries on key popular music personnel from the Americas and Caribbean.
PART 5
Volumes XIX to XXIII: Biographies Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania (Sold as Set) contain biographical entries on key popular music personnel from the Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania .
Click here for Volume Details
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