Williams/Rufus Wainwright, Introduction

Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright (b. 1973) is famous around the world for his engaging live performances and multi-faceted musical style. Katherine Williams uses several aspects of his musical style persona, and biography as springboards from which to discuss and interrogate musicological and analytical frameworks. A primary theme is the interplay between popular music and Western Art Music: one of Williams’ primary aims in Rufus Wainwright is to show that different techniques of analysing music from a popular musicology standpoint are a valuable contribution to the wider musicological discipline, and conversely that the application of theories from traditional musicology can shed light on popular song. More details about Rufus Wainwright can be found at Williams’ recent blogpost on Thinking About Music, available here.