Tag: Music History
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An Instrument of War – The story of the Great Highland Bagpipe in ‘The Year of The Prince’
Sam Mackenzie details the history of the Great Highland Bagpipe as ‘an instrument of war’.
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Morrissey’s Muse: The Playwright Who Inspired the Smiths’ Discography
The playwright Shelagh Delaney is the hidden influence behind much of the Smiths’ discography. Naomi Wallace details Delaney’s bold and devastating dramatic style, making the case for her enduring legacy.
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Egyptian Glam Rockers! – Glitter’s historically entrancing power of expression
From birthday parties to disco nights, glitter is a ubiquitous visual art used in a wide variety of ways. Tilly Bankes provides a brighter lens on history of these flashy sparkles.
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The Strange History of X-Ray Music in the Soviet Union
Black markets throughout the Soviet Union were no stranger to selling western goods. But perhaps the most creative way to smuggle western music into the USSR was through the repurposing of X-Rays for vinyl records. Sally Dolphin explores the unique history of ‘bone music’ in the Soviet Union and how the craft help spread prohibited…
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Rebekah Harkness, “The maddest woman this town has ever seen.”
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Last Great American Dynasty’ chronicles the life of heiress and socialite Rebekah Harkness. Coco Barrett explores the real woman behind the song and the aspects of her life that inspired Swift’s lyrics.
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Cowboy Communism: Dean Reed’s Tour of the Eastern Bloc
While Elvis was receiving vast applause in the US, Dean Reed was garnering similar levels of fame and stardom from the Eastern Bloc. Sam Marks explores his how this American musician found fame brought country music to Soviet states.
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A Jazz Singer’s Story
Written by Dalma Roman. A jazz singer struggles to have her voice and message heard in 1920s New York.
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‘Do What You Want, Just Know What You’re Doing’: The Life of Jackie Shane
Born in Nashville, Jackie Shane came to be a prominent figure in the Toronto soul music scene. However, as a Black, transgender woman in the 1960s, she was forced to overcome racism and homophobia – something which fed into her dynamic performances. Megan Crutchley discusses Shane’s powerful legacy.
Retrospect Journal 