We are delighted to announce the inauguration of the IMS Study Group “Music and Politics: Past and Present” chaired by Francesco Finocchiaro (IT). Below is an excerpt from the mission statement:

The study group’s objective is to foster the advancement of scholarship concerning the nexus of music and politics from both diachronic and synchronic perspectives, encompassing diverse geographical frameworks, methodologies and historical periods. This requires an interdisciplinary approach: the study of the intersection of music and politics appeals, at its very nature, to the combination of musicology with methodologies of disciplines such as political science, philosophy, and the history of political doctrines.

The topic also allows for a broad definition of the music phenomenon, encompassing art music, folk repertoires linked to social functions, as well as music created for mass media, for political contexts (e.g., hymns, anthems, and songs), and for entertainment.

The study group welcomes scholars who wish to contribute their ideas and perspectives in a collegial spirit.

Visit the study group page for the full statement and further details.