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SUMMARY:How Song Shapes Society\, and Society Shapes Song - Richard Morris
 on\, The Times
DTSTART:20260313T173000Z
DTEND:20260313T183000Z
UID:TALK235117@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Janet Gibson
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\n\nFrom Renaissance princes and popes to modern-day d
 emocrats and dictators\, those who rule countries\, religious communities 
 and empires have often kept a close watch on singers\, songs and those who
  compose them. Equally\, song has often been used as a subversive weapon\,
  a tool of protest and a call to arms\, as well as to bolster communal or 
 national pride and morale. The tensions around songs and singers are no le
 ss prominent today than in the past\, as is shown by the recent controvers
 ies surrounding what gets broadcast from the Glastonbury Festival\, who ge
 ts to sing at Covent Garden\, or which nations are allowed to compete in t
 he Eurovision Song Contest. But does music have a real capacity to change 
 society\, rather than merely acting as a vent for strong emotions? How doe
 s singing affect us as individuals? Can it actually make us feel better - 
 physically\, mentally and spiritually? Can it change minds? Conversely\, c
 an the withdrawal of opportunities to sing\, whether for political\, relig
 ious or medical reasons\, be regarded as a crime against humanity? And doe
 s the act of singing as a community bind us together\, or reinforce tribal
  divisions?\n\nBiography\n\nRichard Morrison has worked for The Times for 
 more than 40 years\, first as a classical music and opera critic\, then as
  arts editor and now as chief culture writer. For the past three decades h
 e has written a wide-ranging weekly column commenting on the impact of the
  arts on society and politics\, and vice versa. He also writes a monthly c
 olumn in the BBC Music Magazine and is an occasional broadcaster on BBC Ra
 dio 3. His centenary history of the London Symphony Orchestra was acclaime
 d as a "warts-and-all" chronicle of an orchestra's struggle to survive\, f
 lourish and make great music through the turmoil of the 20th century. Educ
 ated at University College School and Magdalene College\, Cambridge\, he h
 as also been the organist and director of music at a North London parish c
 hurch for all his adult life. He is married and has four children.
LOCATION:Lady Mitchell Hall\, Sidgwick Avenue
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