Music in Portugal and Spain

Ideal for introductory undergraduate courses in world music or ethnomusicology and for upper-level courses on music of the Iberian Peninsula, Music in Portugal and Spain: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture introduces students to the diverse musical cultures of these two Iberian countries.

This unique text engages students with the sounds and meanings of Portuguese and Spanish musics that thrive in local and transnational communities. The book characterizes selected musical genres, styles, and practices, and examines the main themes and issues that undergird them. Separate chapters are devoted to fado and flamenco, focusing on repertoire, musical characteristics, historical trajectories, iconic figures, and current trends.

Christian, Muslim, and Jewish legacies, and the musical repercussions of the colonial expansion of Portugal and Spain are also discussed. Throughout the chapters, the authors show how the social, cultural, and political environments contribute to shaping music and its meanings and how music and dance are used to construct, vindicate, and articulate region and nation. The authors also engage the reader in fiestas in Portugal and Spain through case studies, showing how music is central in these ritualized social events.