Musical Ritual in Mexico City

<p>On the Zócalo the main square of Mexico City Mexico's entire musical history is performed every day. Mexica percussionists drum and dance to the music of Aztec rituals on the open plaza. Inside the Metropolitan Cathedral choristers sing colonial <i>villancicos.</i> Outside the National Palace the Mexican army marching band plays the Himno Nacional a vestige of the nineteenth century. And all around the square people listen to the contemporary sounds of pop rock and <i>música grupera.</i> In all some seven centuries of music maintain a living presence in the modern city.</p> <p>This book offers an up-to-date comprehensive history and ethnography of musical rituals in the world's largest city. Mark Pedelty details the dominant musical rites of the Aztec colonial national revolutionary modern and contemporary eras analyzing the role that musical ritual played in governance resistance and social change. His approach is twofold. Historical chapters describe the rituals and their functions while ethnographic chapters explore how these musical forms continue to resonate in contemporary Mexican society. As a whole the book provides a living record of cultural continuity change and vitality.</p>