4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Treasure of Sounds, June 28, 2009
This Handbook of Latin American Music is great for anyone studying music, loves music, or simply wonders where, how and why music came about.
The Handbook is the second volume of a 10-volume set titled, "The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music." Interested readers may buy the entire 10-set collection, or the individual volumes.
The Handbook included two CD's, which by themselves are worth the cost of the Handbook. The CD's include different genres of music, which is difficult to find. The reader should make a backup copy of the two CDs to preserve the originals. Throughout the readings, the reader is directed to play a song from either Disc 1 or Disc 2. This is where the original invaluable CD's may be damaged; hence the copies. The overall size of the book is 8" by 10" and consists of 567 pages. The book is difficult to hold in the arms if the reader is going to highlight sentences, passages or sections.
"The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music" also includes a List of Maps, and a List of Contributors. The Introduction is extensive in addressing the Music Culture of the Region (In this volume, Latin America). It includes a section titled, "Studying Latin American Music," a section or chapter addressing, "Issues and Processes in the Music of Latin America." It includes an indispensable Glossary of Terms section as well.
There are various Essays written by distinctive authors on, "The Distribution, Symbolism, and Use of Musical Instruments," Musical Genres and Contexts," "Social Structure, Musicians, and Behavior," "Music Dynamics," and "Music of Immigrant Groups." These Essays constitute parts one and two of the Handbook.
Beginning with part three, the Handbook includes Essays by various authors addressing, "Nations and Musical Traditions." These are composed of the different Republics, and Countries in Latin America as the Caribbean, Middle Latin America, and South America.
The Caribbean includes Cuba, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The Middle Latin America section includes Mexico, Tarahumara, Guatemala, Panama and Kuna. The South America section includes The Music of South America, The Tropical-Forest Region, Venezuela, Warao, and Brazil: Central and Southern Areas include Afro-Brazilian Traditions, Paraguay, Argentina, Mapuche, Bolivia, Peru, Q'eros, and an Essay on Afro-Peruvian Traditions.
At the end of each major section, the Handbook provides the reader with 12 "Questions for Critical Thinking." In addition, the Essay of each country, addresses The Indigenous Heritage, The European Heritage, Musical Instruments, Musical Contexts and Genres, Music Learning, Dissemination and Public Policy and Further Study of each country and, or republic.
"Most simply stated, 'The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music,' is a history of Latin American music or, rather, a history of many musics in Latin America. As a history (or perhaps an ethnohistory), however, the book is really a series of snapshots in time, because writing about history is never definite and can never be concluded."
The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music is a Handbook everyone interested in music should have on his or her coffee table.
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