Intro; Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; Chapter 1: Introduction; Music as a Soundtrack to Our Lives; The Conceptual Framework of This Book; The Methodological Approach to This Research; Systematic Narrative Review of Historical and Cross-Cultural Sources; Analysis of Musical Works: Texts and Musical Settings; Empirical Survey of Modern-Day Listeners and Case-Studies of Individual Listeners; The Structure of This Volume; References; Part I: Personal and Contextual Variables Influencing Music Listening Choices; Chapter 2: Longing for the Past and Music Listening Preferences

Nostalgia in HistoryPersonal Nostalgia; Historical Nostalgia; Case Study: Nostalgia and Classical Music; Summarising Music and Nostalgia; References; Chapter 3: Desire for Family Connections: Family History and Cultural Context; The Influence of Family; Race and Culture; Cultural Displacement; Conclusions; References; Chapter 4: Personality, Gender, and Education; Personality; Gender; Social Class and Education; Conclusions; References; Chapter 5: Setting the Mood: Throughout History and in the Modern Day; Affective Regulation Using Music Throughout History; The Ancients; Medieval Period

The Renaissance and Elizabethan EraBaroque Period, Classicism and the Enlightenment; Mood Altering and Self-Medicating with Music in Modern Times; References; Chapter 6: Music Throughout the Life Span; First Memories; Case Studies: Andrew and Simonne; Music in Identities; Case Study: Hreimur Choir, Iceland; Case Study: Choirs to Celebrate and Embrace Old Age; On Performance and Performers Across the Lifespan; Case Study: Music, Activism, Memory and Emotion; Conclusion; References; Part II: Historical and Psychological Variables Reflected in Music Choices for Key Life Events; Chapter 7: Birth

Historical and Cross-Cultural PracticesMusic for Labour and Childbirth; Announcing the Birth; Re-integration into the Community and Celebrations of the Birth; Modern Day Playlists; Music for Labour and Childbirth; Celebrations of the Birth; The Trajectory from the Past to the Modern Day; References; Chapter 8: Childhood; Introduction; Historical and Cross-Cultural Practices; Lullabies; Play Songs; Social and Psychological Functions; Modern Day Playlists; A Case Study: Emma; The Trajectory from the Past to the Modern Day; Changing Cultural Values; Functions of Singing to Children; References

Chapter 9: Coming of Age and BirthdaysHistorical and Cross-Cultural Practices; Modern Day Playlists; Case Study: Joy's Birthday; The Trajectory from the Past to the Modern Day; References; Chapter 10: Love and Heartbreak; Historical and Cross-Cultural Practices; Love in Songs of Ancient Times; The Medieval and Early Modern Periods; After the Renaissance; Modern-Day Playlists; Songs for Romance; Songs of Heartbreak; A Case Study: Peter; The Trajectory from the Past to the Modern Day; References; Chapter 11: Weddings; Historical and Cross-Cultural Practices