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Music in Puerto Rico: A Reader's Anthology
Author(s): Donald Thompson
- Publisher: Scarecrow Press (UK)
- Publication Date: 13 Feb. 2002
- Language: English
- Print length: 160 pages
- ISBN-10: 0810839148
- ISBN-13: 9780810839144
Book Description
Puerto Ricos rich musical history is chronicled in Donald Thompsons translated texts, a history that is often unavailable to those who do not read Spanish easily. Music in Puerto Rico details the Caribbean islands 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 anthologys original sources are difficult to locate.Thompsons 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.Editorial Reviews
Review
Very Good!
Offers an overview of Puerto Rico”s rich musical life and a concise introduction of the subject…no doubt a valuable reference work that will be most welcomed by students and scholars alike.
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).
