{"product_id":"the-race-of-sound-listening-timbre-and-vocality-in-african-american","title":"The Race of Sound: Listening, Timbre, and Vocality in African American","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of The Race of Sound, the book is recommended for readers interested in how social meanings attach to voice and timbre. Nina Sun Eidsheim offers a carefully argued study showing that what listeners hear as natural vocal qualities are in fact historically and socially produced. The central reason to buy is its sustained focus on how racial perception operates through sonic cues, using case studies that make abstract theory audible and concrete for scholars and thoughtful general readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArgument:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book traces how vocal timbre becomes a site for racial meaning, clarifying the link between sound and social identity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase studies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Close readings of Marian Anderson, Billie Holiday, and Jimmy Scott show how individual singers illustrate broader cultural assumptions about voice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical framing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eidsheim situates listening practices within debates on race, gender, and authenticity, helping readers connect sonic details to social histories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContemporary reach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Discussion of Vocaloid and vocal synthesis technology ties historical listening habits to present-day practices and questions of belonging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterdisciplinary approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Combines musicology, cultural studies, and critical race scholarship to offer readers multiple entry points into the topic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Race of Sound is best for graduate students, researchers, and informed readers in musicology, cultural studies, African American studies, and sound studies who want a rigorous account of how listeners map race onto voice. Its close readings and theoretical engagement make it suited to seminar discussion and citation in scholarly work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad popular history of African American music or a simple biography of the singers discussed may want a different book; this volume is analytic and concept-driven rather than a chronological narrative or an exhaustive musician biography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSharp theoretical insight into how timbre and vocality are socially produced, useful for academic argumentation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWell-chosen case studies that illuminate general claims through detailed listening examples.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnections to contemporary technology such as Vocaloid broaden the book's relevance beyond historical subjects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe book's scholarly tone and analytical density may be challenging for casual readers seeking lighter narrative.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Race of Sound: Listening, Timbre, and Vocality in African American Music\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNina Sun Eidsheim\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRace, vocal timbre, and listening in African American music\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCase studies and theoretical analysis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNotable examples\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarian Anderson, Billie Holiday, Jimmy Scott, Vocaloid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiscipline\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMusicology and cultural studies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Race of Sound is a valuable, thought-provoking study for scholars and advanced students who want to understand how race is heard in vocal timbre; its rigorous argumentation and well-chosen examples make it good value for anyone seeking an interdisciplinary account of voice, technology, and racial perception.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book focus on specific singers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; it examines Marian Anderson, Billie Holiday, and Jimmy Scott as central case studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs contemporary technology discussed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; the author includes discussion of Vocaloid and vocal synthesis to link historical listening practices to present questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is the intended audience?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrimarily scholars, graduate students, and readers interested in musicology, cultural studies, and race studies.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nina Sun Eidsheim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48774864732379,"sku":"0822368560","price":110.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/81Yq3wftUnL._SL1500.jpg?v=1778800546","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/the-race-of-sound-listening-timbre-and-vocality-in-african-american","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}