New musicology

[jas]

Hi all,
Can anyone point me to any good online resources for new musicology? It's stuff on sociology of music, gay & lesbian music, feminism in music, that sort of thing. Or just new musicology in general. I'll take anything!

Thanks,

Jas

[pianonut]

i don't think you'll find as much in piano music as you will opera.  "opera is ridiculous, or so it seems, yet, mysteriously there are fanatical devotees of the form who claim for it a primary place in the pantheon of western art..."  i'm not saying there's not always something new in piano music, but you seem to be searching for expressions of human psychology which are most often found overtly in opera.  of course, if you cannot afford to go to the met every weekend, you could simply take a walk over to your nearest community college and follow the music students around.  especially the ones with tattoos and pierced belly buttons.  they are even more intruiging in the summer.  singing wildly varying pieces with classical.  sort of a classical/contemporary blend.  once you experience this, you will say that the 60's were nothing.  of course, i grew up in the 60's, so for me this is just a repeat.

feminism seems to skip a generation.  i am not a feminist (i don't think), but some  might think that i am simply because of the age we are now living in.  my grandmother was among the first generation to have a full time job AND a family.  my mom (her daughter) babysat 3 other siblings after school until job was over.  she left home at 18 and decided that she would be a stay-at-home mom when she had children. now, i'm not judging my grandmother (times were lean during the war years and people had to work anyway).  now we choose to work.  often, i don't understand myself (pushing so hard).  why do we want to do everything.  can't we be content with less money?  my mom and dad saved a lot, and yet my mom didn't work.  we didn't eat out a lot.  we didn't have new clothes every three months.  and, we were still happy.  nowdays, tell a child they can't have an electronic toy or computer, tv, etc., insurance and cars, dental care (more extensive now), etc. etc.  this all add up.  so, i think mom's work to provide a little extra money (even if dad brings home most - but some are about even nowdays i guess). 

one other thing that causes people to rethink feminism is child-care.  unless you work it out with your spouse, one spouse staying home might keep your preschooler healthier, learning just as much, and happier to be with parent (of course, i don't always follow my own advice, and needing time to practice put my preschooler in preschool last year for a couple of days per week).  i don't think a woman should try to be a man or a man should try to be a woman.  women tend to enjoy nurturing and unless you have a man that wants to be with his kids, you've got an expensive problem (daycare is big money) not to mention the fulfillment of seeing your kids go through stages of development. 

i started keeping a diary because i knew i would forget all those moments.  i am so glad to have done it (with pictures, too).  i don't think any job in the world would match the job i have at home (even when i complain).  personally, i think most women like to be treated as women, to act as women, and to be mentally challenged by work in the home as well as work outside the home.  we maybe can't
'have it all' but we can enjoy what we have and be content.