David Metzer

David Metzer is a Professor of Musicology at the School of Music, University of British Columbia. His research focuses on twentieth and twenty-first-century music styles, including classical, popular music, and jazz. He is currently working on a book examining how musicians address incarceration in American society from the 1920s to the present.

Education:

• BA from Dickinson College
• M.Phil and PhD from Yale University

Metzer’s work spans themes like emotional expression in ballads, musical modernism, and cultural meaning through quotation. He explores intersections of music with social issues, historical contexts, and interdisciplinary studies.

Research Trends:
His publications analyze the evolution of the ballad genre, political themes in contemporary compositions, and historical borrowing in music. Notable works include studies on Frederic Rzewski’s treatment of incarceration and the cultural impact of ballads from Elvis to Beyoncé.