Toward a Sound Ecology

Toward a Sound Ecology places many of Titon's key writings that were foundational to the development of ethnomusicology, as well as the subfield of ecomusicology, and continue to influence the field in one location where they can be in dialogue with one another. The reader can trace the trajectory of Titon's intellectual contributions to the discipline and his work with his fieldwork communities through the volume's clear chronological organization and thematic groupings.

- Kate Galloway, Wesleyan University

Titon is unquestionably one of the more important ethnomusicologists of the 20th century, providing leadership and direction in the field as it navigates and develops along various axes of inquiry. . . . Toward a Sound Ecology is a welcome contribution to the field of ethnomusicology and a valuable resource.

- David A. McDonald, Indiana University

Toward a Sound Ecology offers not only a retrospective on shifting thought in ethnomusicology throughout the length of Titon's career but also suggestions about where it may go in the future. Titon's book is a fascinating character study that shows the evolution of his thinking, situated within real-world ethnographic and biographical specifics, and proposes future expansions for the field in its current state. Each of the essays can be excerpted and used out of context for a variety of purposes, but the book as a whole serves as an excellent refresher on the field as a whole, as well as a suggestion of what it may soon become.

- Julianne Graper (Journal of Folklore Research)