Music and Revolution : Cultural Change in Socialist Cuba

This is the first book to tackle the entire scope of what happened under Castro, digging deep into both sides of every question.

Given that policies (and life on the island more generally) is bound to change a great deal when Castro is finally gone, this book will be a definitive work on music during that era. "Music and Revolution" provides a dynamic introduction to the most prominent artists and musical styles that have emerged in Cuba since 1959, and to the policies that have shaped artistic life.

Robin D. Moore gives readers a chronological overview of the first decades after the Cuban revolution, documenting the many ways performance has changed and emphasizing the close links between political and cultural activity.

Offering a wealth of fascinating details about music and the milieu that engendered it, the author traces the development of dance styles, nueva trova, folkloric drumming, religious traditions, and other forms.

He describes how the fall of the Soviet Union has affected Cuba in material, ideological, and musical terms and considers the effect of tense international relations on culture.Most importantly, "Music and Revolution" describes how the arts have become a point of negotiation between individuals, with their unique backgrounds and interests, and official organizations.

It uses music to explore how Cubans have responded to the priorities of the revolution and have negotiated spaces for their individual concerns.