Musical Exoticism: Images and Reflections

Locke, Ralph P.

ISBN 10: 0521877938 / ISBN 13: 9780521877930

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2009

About this Item

xviii + 421 page, illustrations : 25 cm. Summary:A Japanese geisha. a Middle Eastern caravan, a Hungarian-"Gypsy" fiddler, Carmen flinging a rose at Don Jose, Josephine Baker singing "Petite Tonkinoise"--Portrayals of people and places that are considered somehow "exotic" have been ubiquitous from 1700 to today, whether in opera, Broadway musicals, instrumental music, film scores, or in jazz and popular song. Often these portrayals are highly stereotypical but also powerful, indelible, and touching - or troubling. Musical Exoticism surveys the vast and varied repertoire of Western musical works that evoke exotic locales. It relates trends in musical exoticism to other trends in music, such as program music and avant-garde experimentation, as well as to broader historical developments, such as nationalism and empire. Ralph P. Locke traces the history of exotic depiction from the Baroque era onward, and illustrates its phases through close study of numerous exotic works, including operas by Handel and Rameau, Mozart's Rondo alla turca, Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade, Debussy's Pagodes, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Bernstein's West Side Story, and the culture-bridging opera Marco Polo by Chinese-born composer Tan Dun.--Book Jacket.

Seller Inventory # 12cb622

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Musical Exoticism: Images and Reflections
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521877938
• ISBN 13: 9780521877930
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Ethnomusicology

About this title

Synopsis

A Japanese geisha, a Middle Eastern caravan, a Hungarian-'Gypsy' fiddler, Carmen flinging a rose at Don José - portrayals of people and places that are considered somehow 'exotic' have been ubiquitous from 1700 to today, whether in opera, Broadway musicals, instrumental music, film scores, or in jazz and popular song. Often these portrayals are highly stereotypical but also powerful, indelible and touching - or troubling. Musical Exoticism surveys the vast and varied repertoire of Western musical works that evoke exotic locales. It relates trends in musical exoticism to other trends in music, such as programme music and avant-garde experimentation, as well as to broader historical developments such as nationalism and empire. Ralph P. Locke outlines major trends in exotic depiction from the Baroque era onward, and illustrates these trends through close study of numerous exotic works, including operas by Handel and Rameau, Mozart's 'Rondo alla turca', 'Madame Butterfly' and 'West Side Story'.

Book Description

A Japanese geisha, Carmen flinging a rose at Don José, 'West Side Story' - portrayals of exotic people and places have been ubiquitous in Western music from 1700 to today. Musical Exoticism surveys the vast and varied repertoire of Western musical works evoking exotic locales, exploring their persuasive, sometimes disturbing effects.