War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan: The Ethnographer’s Tale (SOAS Studies in Music) - Hardcover

Baily, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1472415825 ISBN 13: 9781472415820

Publisher: Routledge, 2015

Synopsis

In the 1970s John Baily conducted extensive ethnomusicological research in Afghanistan, principally in the city of Herat but also in Kabul. Then, with Taraki’s coup in 1978, came conflict, war, and the dispersal of many musicians to locations far and wide. This new publication is the culmination of Baily’s further research on Afghan music over the 35 years that followed. This took him to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, the USA, Australia and parts of Europe - London, Hamburg and Dublin. Arranged chronologically, the narrative traces the sequence of political events - from 1978, through the Soviet invasion, to the coming of the Taliban and, finally, the aftermath of the US-led invasion in 2001. He examines the effects of the ever-changing situation on the lives and works of Afghan musicians, following individual musicians in fascinating detail. At the heart of his analysis are privileged vignettes of ten musical personalities - some of friends, and some newly discovered. The result is a remarkable personal memoir by an eminent ethnomusicologist known for his deep commitment to Afghanistan, Afghan musicians and Afghan musical culture.

John Baily is also an ethnographic filmmaker. Four of his films relating to his research are included on the DVD that accompanies the text.

About this title

About the Author:

John Baily is Emeritus Professor of Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths, University of London. He holds doctorates in experimental psychology and ethnomusicology, and is trained in anthropological filmmaking. Baily has taught at The Queen’s University of Belfast, Columbia University and Goldsmiths; most of his research has been on the music of Afghanistan.

Review:

'With its complementary DVD, this book gives a vivid picture of what has been happening since the communist government was worn down by the jihadis, and mujahideen rule gave way to that of the Taliban, who burned instruments and persecuted their owners.' The Independent

'It forms a common ground that will allow ethnomusicologists to communicate with
anthropologists, and film-makers with singers and musicians. The result is a harmonious interpolation destined to shepherd the reader calmly through Afghanistan’s crisis of war and exile. It will be seen as a classic text on the
country’s music.' Nichola Khan, Journal of the Royal Antrhopological Institute

"This book is a valuable read for anyone interested in Afghanistan's music in the light of its contemporary history or, vice versa, its contemporary history from the point of view of its music, since it is very comprehensive in both respects, with interesting reflections on the deep mechanisms at work in this vast example." – Mathieu Clavel - Translated from French by Sarah Baily

 

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1472415825
• ISBN 13: 9781472415820
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 232