May 01, 2018

Daniel Barolsky

Hear which books professor of Music Daniel Barolsky considers cornerstones of his field and which ones are great casual reads.

Must Read in Your Field

The Invention of “Folk Music” and “Art Music”: Emerging Categories from Ossian to Wagner

By Matthew Gelbart

All too often we think about categories of music in relatively fixed ways.  Gelbart’s argument sheds light on the fundamental changes that took place in the 18th century when, concomitant with the rise of nationalism, conceptions of music shifted from function (e.g., music used for dance or for church) to origin (music identified by being, for instance, Scottish or, later, by a certain individual). As we see these changes taking place, we see the emergence of “folk music” and “art music” as categories that a) never previously existed b) are deeply interconnected to each other and c) have shaped how we view and value music today in all sorts of problematic and unreflective ways.


Favorite Book to Teach

The Glenn Gould Reader

Tim Page, editor

Glenn Gould was the ultimate provocateur, but in the kindest and funniest of ways. Like his wonderful and idiosyncratic performances, Gould’s prophetic writing pushes back at musical orthodoxies in ways that delight many, piss off many more, but ultimately challenge many of our deeply held beliefs about musical values and aesthetics.


For Pure Enjoyment

Harpo Speaks!

By Harpo Marx with Rowland Barber

One of the best autobiographies I’ve ever read. Harpo was modest, thoughtful, and really funny. The book offers a history of the Marx Brothers (whom I love) and a fascinating window into an urban, intellectual, artistic world (especially the Algonquin Round Table) that Harpo—even with his second-grade education—was a part of.


Book(s) That Changed the Way You Think

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

By Ibram X. Kendi

I was introduced to this book in a workshop on decolonizing pedagogies. No other book so clearly lays out the ways in which structural racism is embedded in every aspect of our history (including the ways history is told and not told), our law, our institutions, and our society. As a white male who has benefited from these structures, Kendi’s narrative pushes me, again and again, to recognize my own position and think of ways to challenge inequitable systems.


Also In This Issue

  • Stephanie Klett ’89, Wisconsin’s award-winning Secretary of Tourism, shows off her state’s best-known export.

    Wisconsin Insider

    more
  • Walk of a Lifetime

    more
  • Beloit College Archives

    In Remembrance: Eudora Shepherd, Professor of Music

    more
  • College Refines Response Protocol

    more

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read our Web Privacy Policy for more information.

Got it! ×