Description: Susan Motherway illustrates the transformative impact of globalization on Irish traditional song performance by examining the ways in which performers mediate the divide between local and global markets. The book portrays patterns of musical change extant within the tradition as a result of globalization, and acknowledges music as a medium for renegotiating an Irish cultural identity within the global.
Review Quotes: 'In this innovative work on the local and the global in Irish song, Motherway highlights issues facing music and musicians everywhere: the definition of local identity through music, connections to diasporic traditions, and the engagement of a far-flung audience whose separation from 'tradition' may be both temporal and spatial.' Sean Williams, The Evergreen State College, USA 'The book will be of relevance to those with interests in ethnomusicology and popular music studies, in addition to globalization theory and Irish cultural history. Not only is this book essential for the robust framework it proposes for ITSP, it should also be recognized for its comprehensiveness and in-depth engagement with a wide variety of song genres. While globalization theory helpfully contextualizes the myriad contexts of Irish traditional song, it is the convincing discussion of sean-nos, Enya, Orange song, and the Afrocelts, among many others, within a single monograph that makes it valuable'. Music and Letters 'I haven't read such a both interesting and entertaining book about Irish Music for a long time. Susan Motherway examines and discusses Irish history, society and culture in a nutshell'. FolkWorld 'Written by a scholar with a deep appreciation and understanding of 'Irish Traditional Music', this title makes an excellent addition to Ashgate's Popular and Folk Music Series. ... an important contribution to the debates emerging from a much-loved and extremely successful modern musical field. Ashgate are to be congratulated for their dedication to the continuing scholarly engagement with that field'. Popular Music 'There is, unquestionably, some fine writing in this book - wonderfully perceptive and eloquent indeed ... notably so in concise, review style descriptions of the process of music-making.' Folk Music Journal 'The Globalization of Irish Traditional Song Performance is a significant contribution to the body of ethnomusicological texts exploring I