Fagge, Roger (2016) ‘Let the People Sing’ : J.B. Priestley and the significance of music. Cultural and Social History, 12 (4). pp. 545-563. doi:10.1080/14780038.2015.1088256 ISSN 1478-0038.

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Abstract

In a writing life that spanned the 1910 to 1970s, J.B. Priestley engaged with a variety of subjects, across various literary forms, ranging from politics, popular culture and Englishness through to theories of time. However it has rarely been noted that he also wrote passionately and knowledgeably about music, with the latter playing an important role in key novels, plays and nonfiction. Priestley also promoted chamber festivals, wrote the libretto for an opera ‘The Olympians’, and even occasionally performed himself. Priestley’s writings on music fitted into his concerns about the rise of an Americanised mass order, and his mistrust of commericalised musical forms was shared by other critics of the time. However, Priestley’s work is more significant than a binary high/low low cultural validation of classical music/dismissal of more popular musical forms. He was often critical of jazz and ragtime, but more positive about popular music that was produced in, reflected, and empowered the individual and community. Priestley’s writings on music marked a genuine attempt at understanding the role of music in culture, and contributed to his democratic critique of the mass society.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain M Music and Books on Music > ML Literature of music
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts > History > Comparative American Studies Faculty of Arts > History Faculty of Arts > Humanities Research Centre
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Culture, Music and literature
Journal or Publication Title:	Cultural and Social History
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	1478-0038
Official Date:	24 March 2016
Dates:	Date Event 24 March 2016 Published
Volume:	12
Number:	4
Page Range:	pp. 545-563
DOI:	10.1080/14780038.2015.1088256
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	6 December 2016
Date of first compliant Open Access:	24 September 2017

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