Sound-mediated environmentalisms in contemporary Tuscany: towards eco-ethnomusicological frameworks in central Italy
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Date
2024
Authors
Gambirasio, Luca
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Publisher
University College Cork
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Abstract
The environmental crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time. While many stakeholders focus on scientific and economic solutions, research concerning cultural responses remains limited—specifically, the role that music and sound may play in contributing to environmentalism. Given that the world's largest polluters are developed nations, research in these contexts is crucial for understanding how music can help address environmental challenges.
This study focuses on a series of music and sound-based events in Tuscany, Italy, where my personal and professional connections as a native and artist offer unique insights into the region's human–nature relationships. Through applied
ethnomusicological research, combined with my own artistic practice, I investigated the interplay between musicians, their local environments, and the ways in which performances can address the cultural component of the environmental crisis. Fieldwork was conducted with a diverse group of participants, including musicians, sound artists, event organizers, biologists, ornithologists, and attendees. The aim was to explore the potential of music and sound-based activities to raise environmental awareness and inspire the social change necessary to confront the crisis. Using this blended methodology, I documented a series of local events and festivals in Tuscany that incorporated music to emphasize the interdependent
relationship between humans and nature, raise environmental awareness, promote nonconsumptive experiences in natural areas, and educate about sustainability. Adopting a post-humanist approach, I also examined human reactions to sounds produced by non human entities, conducting fieldwork among sound-walk participants to create a comprehensive view of the various sonic interactions related to the environmental crisis.
After outlining the key research questions and framing this study within ecomusicological theory and practice—as well as the Sustainable Development Goals— in the introduction, Chapter 2 details the fieldwork, including event sampling, participant selection, and the crafting of performances and compositions to which I contributed. Chapter 3 focuses on the role of listening in fostering environmental awareness, highlighting soundwalking as a practice that blends environmental and musical sounds. Chapter 4 presents case studies of music and sound-based practices in ecotourism, enhancing public understanding of local environmental features and concerns. Still within the ecotourism frame, Chapter 5 explores a series of music videos featuring Baroque musicians performing in a nature park, questioning whether such performances qualify as ecotourism and considering their implications for human–nature relationships in virtual spaces. In Chapter 6, I document how music festivals and events are used to educate participants about sustainability, inspire interest in environmental issues, and promote pro-environmental behaviours. Chapter 7 investigates how certain music and sound based events can encourage a non-dualistic understanding of nature, challenging the cultural divide between humans and the natural world. The concluding chapter synthesizes these findings, outlines future research directions, and reflects on the role of music and music studies in fostering environmentalism and an ecocentric worldview. Though different countries have adopted diverse strategies to promote ecological consciousness, this Italian case study offers valuable insights into the strengths and
limitations of the specific approaches examined. It also provides a model that can inform future eco/ethnomusicological research and policy interventions on a broader scale, contributing to the use of cultural practices in facilitating the transition toward a more ecocentric society.
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Keywords
Ecomusicology , Eco-ethnomusicology , Sound-mediated environmentalism , Tuscany , Italy , Acoustic ecology , Ecotourism , Environmental crisis , Virtual ecotourism , Ethnomusicology , Post-humanism , Environmentalism , Sound studies
Citation
Gambirasio, L. 2024. Sound-mediated environmentalisms in contemporary Tuscany: towards eco-ethnomusicological frameworks in central Italy. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.