Lost Musical Histories— Curating and Documenting Local Popular Music-Making in the UK (Conference Presentation)

Paul Carr

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

LOST MUSICAL HISTORIES: CURATING AND DOCUMENTING LOCAL

POPULAR MUSIC MAKING IN THE UK

PAUL CARR

The title above is based on a ‘special edition’ of the journal Popular Music History, I am just about to have published. Featuring ‘lost histories’ of UK music making, its initial impetus began when after moving to the Valley’s town of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, I realized there were stories about the “lost popular music scenes of the past” emerging from the community. The reason for this deficiency of material in towns such as Merthyr are complex, ranging from lack of targeted finance; the priorities of museums; the capacities of local communities to ‘self-curate’; to local histories simply been considered unimportant to “official” curators, publishers and writers. Issues of “selected histories” and “institutional power” are highlighted in the work of academics such as Leonard and Knifton (2015), Baker (2015, 2018), Brocken (2010) and Lipsitz (2007), with Bennett pointing out how popular music cultures were not traditionally regarded as heritage in the first place. This presentation will outline some of the pervasive themes of my edited collection, discussing why political power has a tendency to ignore some histories and celebrate others, and the impacts that local histories can have on communities’ identities.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 21 Feb 2020
EventIrish National Committee of the International Council for Traditional Music - 15th Annual Conference - University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Duration: 21 Feb 202022 Feb 2020
Conference number: 15th

Conference

ConferenceIrish National Committee of the International Council for Traditional Music - 15th Annual Conference
Abbreviated titleICTM 2020
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityCork
Period21/02/2022/02/20

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