Del 17 - Irish Musical Studies

Women in Irish Traditional Music

Inbunden, Engelska, 2025

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Traces the position, experiences and reception of women in Irish traditional music through detailed ethnographic and statistical findings.This book is the first of its kind to engage with the larger subject of women in commercial Irish traditional music. It considers the experiences of performers in the various commercial arenas of the tradition, while also engaging in critical discussions of choice, agency, feminism and sexualisation. It reveals how the commercial music industry and Celtic music label continues to place women within a stereotypical idealised role or occupation.The book provides new insight into the legacy of women-led bands and compilations as well as their impact on Irish traditional music over five decades. Its findings on commercial dance shows are equally significant. While these shows had a positive impact on performers, at the same time they enforced gendered, racial and heteronormative expectations. Drawing on extensive ethnographic and statistical research, the book finds strong evidence that women and other marginalised practitioners continue to face greater challenges and different expectations when maintaining a professional career and participating in Irish traditional music. It also uncovers characteristics and dynamics related to the recreational and commercial spaces of the Irish traditional music and Irish dance scene that enable harmful and predatory behaviour. The author's findings support understandings and aid future legislation for creating a safe, inclusive and equitable performance space for all.Cover artwork by Claire Prouvost

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2025-08-19
Mått156 x 234 x 24 mm
Vikt666 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieIrish Musical Studies
Antal sidor312
FörlagBoydell & Brewer Ltd
ISBN9781837652013

Tillhör följande kategorier

Musiker, sångare och grupper inom Kultur
Genusvetenskap inom Samhälle och politik
Folkmusik inom Kultur
Populärmusik inom Kultur

JOANNE CUSACK delivers lectures on performance, ethnomusicology, musicology, gender and sexuality studies at the Department of Music, Maynooth University. She is also an Irish traditional musician who has performed both nationally and internationally, and is a co-founder of the activist organisation, FairPlé. In May 2024, Joanne was shortlisted for the Public Engagements Awards at Maynooth University for her research and activist work. In January 2025, Joanne was named as the winner of the Harry White Doctoral Prize of the Society for Musicology in Ireland.

Introduction 1. Mná na hÉireann: Women, Colonialism, and the Catholic Church 2. Mná an Cheoil: Echoes of the Past 3. Passing the Baton: A Woman's Heart and the Communal Voice for Women 4. "Celtic Fairies" and the "Commercial Bankable Formula" 5. (Re)shaping Image and Performance in Commercial Irish Dance Shows 6. Changes between Society and Scene: Legislative Developments, Activism, and Festival Line-Ups 7. Performing in the Boys' Club 8. From Musician to Mother: Parenthood Ideologies and Gendered Prejudices

With a six-decade long career linked by work in the area of human rights, activism and advocacy, I recognise and value the passion and dedication clearly evident in this book which shines a light on the often overlooked, unacknowledged and undervalued position of women in Irish Traditional Music. What is particularly impressive about Joanne's book, is her unwavering commitment to highlighting the broader sociocultural and political landscape of Irish society while simultaneously exposing the specific dynamics related to our tradition which continue to enable discrimination and prevent it from being a safe, inclusive space. This work and the understandings within are a welcome new resource for academics, activists, and practitioners alike. It underscores the significance of our musicians as cultural ambassadors and the necessity for our musical spaces to be accurate reflections of modern Ireland.