Sonic Ruins of Modernity

Sonic Ruins of Modernity shows how social, cultural and cognitive phenomena interact in the making and distribution of folksongs beyond their time. Through Judeo-Spanish (or Ladino) folksongs, the author illustrates a methodology for the interplay of individual memories, artistic initiatives, political and media policies, which ultimately shape “tradition” for the past century. He fleshes out in a series of case studies how folksongs can be conceived, performed and circulated in the post-tradition era – constituting each song as a “sonic ruin,” as an imagined place. At the same time, the book overall provides a unique perspective on the history of the Judeo-Spanish folksong. 

To enhance your experience of reading this book, you will find in this online page additional visual, audiovisual and sound resources accompanying the text. These resources are:

Images, labeled as in the book (e.g. Image 2.1). These are the original images that were printed without colors. There are also additional images not included in the printed book that expand the visual experience of the text. These images are labeled with an additional letter (e.g. 2.2a meaning an additional image to the second image of chapter 2).

Music Examples are the musical scores included in the book (e.g. Music example 5.1) that can be downloaded for easier reference.

Recorded Musical Examples are sound files of pieces discussed in the book They are numbered by chapter, serial number within the chapter (e.g. 3.1) and specific page number in which the example is discussed and/or transcribed (e.g. “5.1.3 page 166' means the third version of the melody in example 1 of chapter 5 printed on page 166).

An additional PDF file is a Companion including some of the original sources of the Recorded Musical Examples as well as links to additional videos that vividly illustrate the arguments presented in the book.