Music in Puerto Rico

Donald Thompson

ISBN 10: 0810839148 / ISBN 13: 9780810839144

Published by Scarecrow Press, US, 2002

About this Item

Puerto Rico's rich musical history is chronicled in Donald Thompson's translated texts, a history that is often unavailable to those who do not read Spanish easily. Music in Puerto Rico details the Caribbean island's musical roots from Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the New World in the late fifteenth century to twentieth century developments. It explores a multitude of topics, including native instruments, the introduction of music in schools, folk traditions, the legendary salsa, urban pop, and commercial music. The volume also examines musical differences in various regions, including mountains and plains.Documents from historical figures such as Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas and Manuel Alonso have been excerpted and translated. In addition, Music in Puerto Rico explores the various modes of musical expression that have been unique to different geographic regions, including the mountains and the plains. The documented texts also simplify bibliographic search, as many of the anthology's original sources are difficult to locate.Thompson's book provides a glimpse into a society in which cultures intersect and in which magic was born in the form of the popular salsa. Musicians, musicologists, historians, students of Hispanic culture, and anyone interested in the musical foundations of Puerto Rican life will find Music in Puerto Rico a valuable resource.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780810839144

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Music in Puerto Rico
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press, US
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810839148
• ISBN 13: 9780810839144
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 331 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Puerto Rico's rich musical history is chronicled in Donald Thompson's translated texts, a history that is often unavailable to those who do not read Spanish easily. Music in Puerto Rico details the Caribbean island's musical roots from Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the New World in the late fifteenth century to twentieth century developments. It explores a multitude of topics, including native instruments, the introduction of music in schools, folk traditions, the legendary salsa, urban pop, and commercial music. The volume also examines musical differences in various regions, including mountains and plains.

Documents from historical figures such as Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas and Manuel Alonso have been excerpted and translated. In addition, Music in Puerto Rico explores the various modes of musical expression that have been unique to different geographic regions, including the mountains and the plains. The documented texts also simplify bibliographic search, as many of the anthology's original sources are difficult to locate.

Thompson's book provides a glimpse into a society in which cultures intersect and in which magic was born in the form of the popular salsa. Musicians, musicologists, historians, students of Hispanic culture, and anyone interested in the musical foundations of Puerto Rican life will find Music in Puerto Rico a valuable resource.

About the Author

Donald Thompson is professor emeritus and former music department chairman of the University of Puerto Rico. He has also been active as an instrumentalist, conductor, researcher, and editor. His numerous writings have appeared in international research journals and reference works including the New Grove Dictionaries of Music. He was co-compiler of Music and Dance in Puerto Rico From the Age of Columbus to Modern Times: An Annotated Bibliography (Scarecrow Press, 1991) and co-author of Concert Life in Puerto Rico 1957-1992: Views and Reviews (The University of Puerto Rico Press, 1998).