Sound Expertise

I’m very happy to have come upon this podcast site, quite by accident. It is fascinating to me to hear musicologists talk about their research process. Bravo!

There are a variety of good music podcasts out there, but this is the only one that features just one scholar talking about their work. These interviews range from the topical to career-spanning with an emphasis on early career scholars working on subject pertaining to North Atlantic repertoires. These episodes are always stimulating and carefully curated and it’s always one of the first podcasts I download on Tuesdays.

Beyond the "what do musicologists do all day?" question, this podcast probes scholars to tell "why?" What factors prompted their work, sometimes leading them into new and unexpected directions? The issues considered are big, but the stakes are huge--connecting what goes on in the classroom with what goes on in "the real world." Perceptive questions from Will Robin, who knows also how to stay out of the way and let his guests tell their story.

Sound Expertise has rapidly become one of my favorite podcasts. Every episode is highly informative and lively thanks to Will Robin’s strength as an interviewer and his guests’ obvious passion for their research. The variety of musical topics covered guarantees that there’s something in the episode catalogue for everyone. Furthermore, Sound Expertise provides a great introduction to today’s musicology field and how it has grown/shifted over the last few decades. Much appreciated!