Understanding Scotland Musically

Scottish traditional music has been through a revival in the mid-twentieth century and has now entered a professionalised public space. Devolution in the UK and a surge of cultural debate surrounding the independence referendum in Scotland led to a greater study of identities in the UK, set within a wider context of cultural globalization. Traditional music has played an increasingly prominent role in the public life of Scotland, mirrored in other Anglo-American traditions. This book explores the movement from historically text-bound musical authenticity towards more transient sonic identities that blur established musical genres and the meaning of what constitutes ‘traditional’ music today.