The Politics of Navigation: Globalisation, Music and Composition

The influence of globalisation on musical composition has grown remarkably in recent years. This reflects the wider impact of late 20th Century demographic and technological shifts on culture. Great movements of people followed the end of the cold war, with migrants in their millions responding to the call of more affluent nations for willing workers. The industrialisation of many developing countries similarly fuelled the movement of people, with ethnic tensions following the withdrawal of colonial powers displacing many others. The globalisation of information, the 'internet' accompanied by widespread exploitation of satellite communications technology, has brought new images and sounds into our work and dwelling places. These shifts have accelerated the practices associated with musical globalisation, causing new 'accented' cultures to develop, absorbing, influencing, reflecting and refracting new host milieux. These changes have impacted on musical practices, destabilising core assumptions and disturbing long established hierarchies. The present volume explores these developing influences through a consideration of extant works, experimental composition and contingent analysis