A Guide to the Latin American Art Song Repertoire: An Annotated Catalog of Twentieth-Century Art Songs for Voice and Piano

Introduction

xiii Introduction This volume will serve as a reference for performers and teachers of­vocal music. Its main purpose is to introduce readers to the vast array of art song literature and composers from Latin America, and to give brief information about each song included in the catalog, such as song title, title of cycle (if any), year of composition or publication, poet, language , range, and tessitura. The book will also serve as a location guide, giving publication information or library housing information, so that works can be obtained for purchase or study. The Challenge The challenge for musicians who want to explore Latin Ameri­can art song is that no source such as this one exists at present. Teachers and performers who wish to delve into this wealth of performance literature do not know where to turn, and end up abandoning this repertoire for other songs that are readily available and already in the public eye. This volume will provide the guidance needed to identify and locate Latin Ameri­can songs. As the following review of literature shows, English-language reference works on Latin Ameri­can music are limited, and many of those that do exist are outdated. An English-language work on Latin Ameri­ can art song will provide a useful means for English speakers and non-­ native speakers of Spanish to explore this vast repertoire. There is also currently no catalog of Latin Ameri­can music exclusively devoted to the genre of art song. Such a catalog will provide guidance and be greatly useful to performers and teachers alike. xiv introduction Existing Literature Information on art music has seen an enormous change in medium over the last few years. As we have ushered in a new millennium, so have we begun to explore new ways to research music and share ideas about it. Library holdings and new publications of books, scores, and recordings have become more accessible via the internet, and although not every country and region of Latin America is as technologically connected as the United States is, it seems that the world of Latin Ameri­can art music is beginning to join this larger network and make its way through the intricate wirings of the worldwide web.1 Although this literature review will discuss works published in traditional, non-­electronic format, the importance of the internet should be noted, and websites crucial to the development and research of Latin Ameri­can music will be identified later in the volume. Readers should also take note of the comment in the preface which suggests that any search for Latin Ameri­can music begin with WorldCat or the Library of Congress.2 On the subject of Latin Ameri­canmusic,thereexisttwomaintypes of literature: discussions involving stylistic elements of Latin Ameri­ can music, and lists of Latin Ameri­can repertoire. Research exists in all major forms: books, articles, dissertations and theses, and internet discussions . The following literature review highlights some of the major sources.3 Nicholas Slonimsky’s Music of Latin America is an excellent second­ ary source on the stylistic elements of Latin Ameri­can Music.4 Originally published in 1945, it was reprinted in 1972 with no major changes. Probably the most commonly used reference is Gerard Béhague’s book Music in Latin America: An Introduction (1979).5 Although now outdated , it is still valuable for its detailed information covering roughly thirteen countries or regions of Latin America,andcontinuestobeused as the main source of information for many current articles on Latin Ameri­can music. The book is arranged according to musical trends and the stylistic evolution of Latin Ameri­can music in general. In his introduction , Béhague states that he chose to sacrifice a comprehensive look at Latin Ameri­can music in favor of examining fewer countries and works more closely. The book is not meant as an exclusive discussion of xv introduction song; however, there are a handful of song examples throughout. The most valuable feature of Béhague’s book is the bibliographic section at the end of each chapter, although many of the recommended readings are in Spanish-language sources. For a broader lookatLatinAmeri­canmusic,consultthe series Music in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Encyclopedic History, edited by Malena Kuss. These volumes present an ethnographic look at Latin Amer­i­­can music from its indigenous roots to contemporary society and urban trends.6 Another important recent publication is the second...