Underground Harmonies - Paperback

by Susie J. Tanenbaum (Author)

This is the first book on New York's subway musicians--modern troubadours who perform on platforms, mezzanines, and even trains pounding through the city. Illustrating her account with captivating photos, Susie J. Tanenbaum draws on interviews with musicians and their audiences to explore both the vibrant culture and the intricate politics of subway music.

Back Jacket

This book is about New York City subway musicians. It explores who these individuals are and what motivates them to perform in an urban space that was not designed with their activity in mind. This book is, moreover, about New York City music, an urban ritual that challenges the way we think about public space by promoting spontaneous, democratic, intimate encounters in one of the city's most routinized and alienating environments.