Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Merchant offers a nuanced, intelligent understanding of the relationship between gender and musical culture in contemporary Uzbeck society. In addressing the place of women in the musical life of the country, she throws light not only on the music but also on how the music has negotiated and contributed to the historical dynamic that has existed since the Soviet Union annexed Uzbekistan… A valuable resource for those interested in anthropology, Central Asian studies, gender studies… Highly recommended."--
Choice"Readable and useful not only to those interested in the legacies of Soviet rule, but also to ethnomusicologists and scholars interested in gender issues."--
Journal of Folklore Research"A beautifully textured account of contemporary Uzbekistan's national project, and the central role of women musicians in this construction. . . . Filled with interesting and timely material, this book is truly a wonderful read."--Ellen Koskoff, author of
A Feminist Ethnomusicology"Merchant has listened carefully to the voices of Central Asian women musicians, so this book advances understanding of both a neglected world area and of women's experience in a postcolonial, Islamic-influenced society."--Mark Slobin, author of
Folk Music: A Very Short Introduction"This book provides a timely focus on gender in Central Asian music--an area which deserves greater attention. It includes strong ethnographic material and interviews with musicians, draws on relevant theoretical literature, and addresses a range of issues concerning gender and the performance of Uzbek national identity, genre, and gendered economies of performance."--Rachel Harris, author of
The Making of a Musical Canon in Chinese Central Asia: The Uyghur Twelve Muqam
