Sonic Ruins of Modernity

<p><em>Sonic Ruins of Modernity</em> 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.</p> <p>Preface Chapter 1 – Defining sonic ruins of modernity Chapter 2 – Excavating sonic ruins: the modern Judeo-Spanish folksong in context Chapter 3 – From Spain to the Eastern Mediterranean and Back Chapter 4 – Indescribable Female Beauty: the Song of Songs and Sephardic <em>Wasfs</em> Chapter 5 – A Forbidden love: The sanctity of a modern Sephardic female proletarian Chapter 6 – Abraham’s vocation, modern invocations Chapter 7 –From Venice to Manhattan: The modern odyssey of <em>Bendigamos</em> Chapter 8 – A garden of sonic ruins and the post-traditional condition Abbreviations Bibliography</p>