Music Endangerment: How Language Maintenance Can Help (OUP Book)

What is it about?

Situated within the growing field of applied ethnomusicology, and breaking with a tradition in ethnomusicology of ethnographic and fieldwork-based studies, this book explores the phenomenon of endangered music genres and investigates ways in which the field of language maintenance may inform efforts to support them. Music Endangerment is a response to the increasing sense of international urgency to address the wide-scale endangerment of intangible cultural heritage across the world, including music.

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Photo by Lex Aliviado on Unsplash

Photo by Lex Aliviado on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Through the concepts, practical tools and recommendations it presents, I hope the book will serve as a point of reference and departure for better supporting endangered music genres, particularly those of indigenous and minority peoples. Ethnomusicologists, policy-makers, cultural heritage workers, and culture-bearers themselves will find this book useful. Ultimately, I hope Music Endangerment benefits the communities whose music genres are facing challenges to their viability.