Music in America's Cold War Diplomacy, Volume 18
Danielle Fosler-Lussier
(Author)
Description
During the Cold War, thousands of musicians from the United States traveled the world, sponsored by the U.S. State Department's Cultural Presentations program. Performances of music in many styles-classical, rock 'n' roll, folk, blues, and jazz-competed with those by traveling Soviet and mainland Chinese artists, enhancing the prestige of American culture. These concerts offered audiences around the world evidence of America's improving race relations, excellent musicianship, and generosity toward other peoples. Through personal contacts and the media, musical diplomacy also created subtle musical, social, and political relationships on a global scale. Although born of state-sponsored tours often conceived as propaganda ventures, these relationships were in themselves great diplomatic achievements and constituted the essence of America's soft power. Using archival documents and newly collected oral histories, Danielle Fosler-Lussier shows that musical diplomacy had vastly different meanings for its various participants, including government officials, musicians, concert promoters, and audiences. Through the stories of musicians from Louis Armstrong and Marian Anderson to orchestras and college choirs, Fosler-Lussier deftly explores the value and consequences of "musical diplomacy."Product Details
Price
$78.00
Publisher
University of California Press
Publish Date
May 01, 2015
Pages
344
Dimensions
6.2 X 9.2 X 1.1 inches | 0.01 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9780520284135
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Danielle Fosler-Lussier is Associate Professor of Music, Ohio State University, and author of Music Divided: BartΓ³k's Legacy in Cold War Culture.