Music of Greater Mexico

This is a course that it will deal with a single culture group. In this case we will deal with one specific aspect of the expressive culture of Mexico, that is, its music. There are a wide range of musics in Mexico, including those music traditions of the Mexican cultures within the United States. The course will also include some incursion into the overlapping traditions which Mexico shares with the peoples of Central America.

There is no text for this course, because no adequate text has been written. Assigned readings for the course will be made and notice of these will appear on the course web page. It is also important to remember that the music is the subject of the course and that part of what we are to do is to consider this music as a system of culture symbols in sound. Because there is no text and because the relationship between cultural context and sound symbol can only be gained in class participation, your daily attendance in class is mandatory. In addition to attendance in class, examples of music heard in class will be placed available on the course web page were you will be expected to go regularly in order to familiarize yourself with the sound of the musical styles heard in class.

The course grade will be based on performance on mid term and final exams in addition to one or two short written assignments and upon class attendance. Knowledge of Spanish is not required, however, it will be important to remember accurately the correct names of such things as geographic regions, tribes, instruments, and musical styles and forms, since these are the labels by which we communicate about the symbolic sound system.