Sounds of Liberty: Music, Radicalism and Reform in the Anglophone World, 1790-1914

The book explores the role of music in the transmission of political culture over time and distance, focusing on radicals and reformers committed to the struggle for a better future. It examines iconic songs, the sound of music as radicals and reformers marched, electioneered, celebrated, commemorated, and struck, rioted, and rebelled, and listens within the walls of associations where it was a part of a way of life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2019
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Throughout the expansive nineteenth century, the echoes of liberty resounded across the Anglophone realm, resonating with the aspirations of radicals and reformers who yearned for a brighter future. In this captivating book, we delve into the profound role of music in the transmission of political culture across time and distance. Guided by the tireless footsteps of activists, both women and men, who traversed the globe in pursuit of change, we uncover the essential significance of music-making in the lived experience of politics. Through meticulous exploration, we witness how music has served as a catalyst, unifying, dividing, consoling, reminding, inspiring, and, at times, oppressing.

The book delves into iconic songs that resonated with the struggles of radicals and reformers, from the marching beats that fueled their campaigns to the celebratory melodies that marked their victories. It also explores the soundscape of rallies, electioneering, and commemorations, where music became an integral part of the political landscape, inspiring, nurturing, and, at times, imposing its influence.

Furthermore, the book takes us into the intimate spaces of various associations, where music permeated daily life, fostering a sense of community, identity, and shared purpose. It reveals how music inspired, nurtured, and, at times, restricted the lives of those who embraced it as a way of life. By immersing ourselves in the historical recordings and narratives presented in this book, we have the unique opportunity to hear history unfold as it actually occurred, allowing us to connect with the struggles, triumphs, and transformative power of music in shaping political movements and the human experience.

Weight: 602g
Dimension: 159 x 234 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526138330