Review article
https://doi.org/10.59014/PNQK5732
Music festivals as cultural phenomenon
Sanja Drakulić
Abstract
This paper offers a comprehensive investigation of the music festivalas a multifaceted cultural phenomenon, tracing its development from antiquitythrough to the contemporary era. Drawing upon an extensive analysis ofseveral hundred festivals, the study elucidates the unique characteristics andremarkable diversity inherent in social musical events of a celebratory nature.These festivals are defined by their concert performances, which focus on specificmusical genres or programs, unified under distinctive titles and set withina festive atmosphere.The paper explores various dimensions of music festivals, including their periodicity,alignment with calendrical cycles, and their sacred or secular orientations.It also addresses festivals dedicated to particular composers or performers,memorial commemorations, and competitive events, as well as those withrigorously curated repertoires versus more eclectic programming. Through thisdetailed examination, the study highlights how music festivals serve not onlyas platforms for artistic presentation but also as significant social institutions.Furthermore, the social functions of festivals are critically analyzed, emphasizingtheir dual role as educational forums and ideological agents within society.Music festivals act as custodians of cultural heritage, preserving and transmittingtraditional musical values, while simultaneously acting as sites of innovationthat challenge or seek to redefine established cultural narratives. Thetension between tradition and transformation is central to understanding theevolving role of music festivals in contemporary cultural life.This research contributes to the broader discourse on the evolution of new musicfestivals and engages with ongoing debates surrounding the current crisisin contemporary music, reflecting on the implications for cultural productionand reception in the 21st century.
Keywords
music festival evolution; cultural heritage; festival typologies; social function of festivals; contemporary music crisis; new music festivals
Hrčak ID:
341129
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2025.
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