Writing

The culmination of my two years studying ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University was my Master’s Thesis, finished in April of 2005, entitled Tourist Songs: Cultural Tourism, The Buena Vista Social Club, and Cuban Son. I address the recent shifts in the Cuban policy on tourism, and observe the (many) ways in which these changes directly affect musicians, especially those performing a style of music with tourist appeal, such as “traditional” son. I include detailed transcriptions and analyses of pieces performed by the musicians I encountered while doing my field work in the summer of 2004, as well as recorded examples. And it’s all here for download!

• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Cuban Son and Cultural Tourism
• Chapter 2: The Buena Vista Social Club Phenomenon
• Chapter 3: Genre Issues in Cuban Son
• Chapter 4: Stylistic Analysis
• Appendix A: Musical Examples
• Appendix B: Photos
• Bibliography
• Complete Thesis as one PDF File

You can listen to all of the musical examples here (refer to the bibliography for more detailed information about the recordings) :

1. «Aquella Boca,» Sexteto Habanero 1927
2. Introduction to «A La Cuata Co y Co,» Sexteto Boloña 1926
3. Introduction to «Suavecito,» Septeto Nacional 1930
4. Introduction to «Caballeros, Silencio,» Sexteto Habanero 1927
5. Introduction to «Vitico,» Isaac Oviedo 1998
6. «Alza Los Pies, Congo,» (excerpt) Sexteto Habanero 1928
7. «Mi Arere,» (excerpt) Los Muñequitos de Matanzas 1988
8. «La Gente del Bronx,» (excerpt) Arsenio Rodríguez 1951
9. «La Bola,» (excerpt) Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa 1996
10. «La Expresiva,» (excerpt) NG La Banda 1990
11. «No Se Puede Tapar El Sol,» (excerpt) NG La Banda 1990
12. «El Traguito,» Félix Godón *
13. «Harina de Maíz,» Cuarteto Rumí *
14. Guajeo in Dm, Ilià¡n Torres *
15. Introduction to «Se Quema Pueblo Nuevo,» Septeto Machín *
16. «Ven, ven, ven,» (excerpt) Septeto Machín *
17. «Me Quedé Con Juana,» (excerpt) Son Soneros *
18. «Saca La Mano, Antonio,» Son Soneros *
19. «Mozambique,» (excerpt) Pedro «Pello el Afrokan» Izquierdo ca. 1963
20. «Ahora Te Pido, Sonero,» (excerpt) Son Soneros *
21. «Lágrimas Negras,» (excerpt) Son Diamante *
22. «El Que Siembra Su Maíz,» Perlas del Son *
23. Introduction to «Sabor a Caney,» Perlas del Son *
24. «Pedro Navaja,» (excerpt) Ruben Blades 1978
25. Guajeo in Am, Daniel Cos *
26. «Si No Te Vea,» Moneda Nacional *
27. «La Raya Rumbero,» Moneda Nacional *
28. Introduction to «Aquella Boca,» Cañambú *
29. «¿Que está pasando?,» (excerpt) Cañambú *
30. Bongó solo, Manuel Alemán and Cañambú *

* Field recording, recorded with permission by the author June-August 2004

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