| On a Rock in the Middle of the Ocean: Songs and Singers in Tory Island, Ireland [With CD] Contributor(s): Ó. Laoire, Lillis (Author) |
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ISBN: 0810851369 ISBN-13: 9780810851368 Publisher: Scarecrow Press OUR PRICE: $135.85 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2005 Annotation: Taking as its subject the small Gaelic-speaking community of Tory Island off the Donegal coast of Ireland, this book tries to answer the deceptively simple question of why people sing. By focusing on aspects of song transmission and performance, showing h |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Music - Music | Ethnomusicology |
| Dewey: 782.421 |
| LCCN: 2005045190 |
| Series: Europea |
| Physical Information: 1.15" H x 6.12" W x 9.3" (1.63 lbs) 392 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Taking as its subject the small Gaelic-speaking community of Tory Island off the Donegal coast of Ireland, On a Rock in the Middle of the Ocean tries to answer the deceptively simple question of why people sing. The book focuses on aspects of song transmission and performance, showing how early exposure to musical culture led certain individuals to be singled out and given special encouragement to express themselves. Individual desire and ability to overcome the rigors of social scrutiny are important factors in the development of an active public performer. In a special study of one song, author Lillis Laoire shows how the song itself emerges as a mediator of dilemmas and tensions in island life. In a meticulous exposition of the links between music, text, and performance, the vicissitudes of island life are revealed while these tensions are alleviated by singing humorous ribald lyrics to provide a deliberate contrast. Comparisons are drawn to argue that the interpretation of songs to reveal particular worlds of meaning is a widespread human activity, found in similar configurations at both global and local levels. In Tory's context, the book further asserts that such mediation contributes to a strongly realized sense of identity and historical continuity among the islanders. The book includes an audio CD of folk music from Tory Island, featuring traditional ballads, tunes, and dances. |