Cirrus@Austlit

'There are different ways of understanding a per-formance. One reviewer might wax lyrical about the tightness of the band, or the singer’s vocal abilities, while a different reviewer might discuss the extent to which people queued up to attend the performance and debate the social impact of the band. These two understandings greatly enhance our appreciation of music, song and dance in different ways. Analysis of the art form itself reveals the musical intuitions of those well-versed in its genre, such as what makes a ballad a ballad, or a trio a trio, and what constitutes creativity and incorrectness. The second understanding relies on analysis of the role of music in society, seeking answers for questions such as why certain music, song or dance is performed, and what else are performers doing in such activities. This is the understanding that eight of the nine contributors bring to this book, while Anderson contributes to the former type of understanding, which is also where my area of expertise lies as a linguist and musicologist.' (Introduction)