Presence Through Sound: Music and Place in East Asia

The book Presence Through Sound explores how music and 'place intersect and are interwoven with meaning in East Asia, through a range of case studies on selected musics of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Tibet. It demonstrates how music creates and challenges borders, gives significance to geographical and cartographic spaces, and is used to interpret relationships with ecology and environment, spirituality and community, and state and nation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Presence Through Sound explores the intricate relationship between music and place in East Asia through a comprehensive examination of various musical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Tibet. Through a series of case studies, the book delves into the diverse ways in which music and location intersect and are intertwined with meaning. It investigates the significance of place in the various contexts in which music is created and experienced, including contemporary forms of longstanding traditions, popular music, and the design of performance spaces.

The book demonstrates how music not only shapes but also challenges borders, giving importance to geographical and cartographic spaces at local, national, and international levels. It showcases how music is used to interpret relationships with ecology and environment, spirituality and community, and state and nation.

The volume brings together scholars from Australia, China, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the UK, each of whom explores a specific genre or topic in depth. Each nuanced account offers distinct and at times different aspects to be significant, yet collectively, they highlight the interconnectedness across the region and beyond regarding perception, conception, expression, and interpretation.

Presence Through Sound seamlessly blends ethnomusicology with anthropology, literature, linguistics, area studies, and, particularly relevant to East Asia in the twenty-first century, local musicologies. The book serves as a valuable resource for a broad academic readership, providing insights into the multifaceted ways in which music shapes and reflects the cultural and geographical landscapes of East Asia.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367523664