Protest Music in Latin America

Politics, Faith, and Social Justice
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-98862-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 318 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 598 g

Protest Music in Latin America: Politics, Faith, and Social Justice addresses the impact of protest music in Latin America between the late 1950s and the 2000s. This was a time of continental fervor for revolutionary change and social transformation. This book analyzes the interplay between faith and politics in the music of social protest across the region. It places these songs in historical context and offers a window into the religious and cultural life, language, and thought of social actors in Latin American history.

This vital resource for teaching students about Latin American cultures and societies offers in-depth analysis of twelve songs from different countries. An opening section provides the theoretical framework and historical background for understanding Latin American protest music and its relationship to faith and social change. Each of the remaining chapters focuses on one key song. The chapters move chronologically from the 1950s to the 2000s in their analysis of the composers and performers, historical and political contexts, lyrics, musical elements, religious themes, and messages of social change. Discussion questions and further resources at the end of each chapter allow readers to engage more deeply with the music. The full lyrics of each song are included in the original language with an English translation. Broadening the resources available for courses in Latin American music, history, culture, and language, while offering new insights for researchers and academics, Protest Music in Latin America: Politics, Faith, and Social Justice is an essential resource for scholars of sociology, religion, world music, and Latin American studies.

Zielgruppe

Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Quiroa, Néstor

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde Historische & Regionale Volkskunde
• Geisteswissenschaften Musikwissenschaft Geschichte der Musik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Amerikanische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Musikwissenschaft Musikwissenschaft Allgemein Musikethnologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Musikwissenschaft Musikwissenschaft Allgemein Musiktheorie, Musikästhetik, Kompositionslehre
• Geisteswissenschaften Musikwissenschaft Musikgattungen Weltmusik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of contributors

Song credits

Foreword

Virginia Garrard

Introduction

Néstor Quiroa

1. Theoretical Framework

Wilfredo Canales and Marcell Silva Steuernagel

2. Social Protest Music in Latin America: A Brief Historical Context

Néstor Quiroa

3. “Preguntitas sobre Dios”: An Intergenerational Dialogue with No Answers

Wilfredo Canales, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

4. When Enough is no Longer Enough: “Ya no basta con rezar”

Néstor Quiroa, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

5. “Plegaria a un labrador”: A Revolutionary “Lord’s Prayer” to a Peasant

Lindy Scott, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

6. “Playa Girón” by Silvio Rodríguez, a Troubadour Prophet of the Cuban Revolution

Lindy Scott, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

7. Not Shutting Up the Truth: “Cálice” by Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil

Lindy Scott, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

8. “¿Cristo al servicio de quién?”: Lessons on Liberation Theology

Néstor Quiroa, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

9. Joan Baez and Her Prophetic Voice: “No nos moverán”

Lindy Scott, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

10. Singing Liberation in the Church: Carlos Mejía Godoy’s Misa campesina nicaragüense

Lindy Scott, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

11. “Solo le pido a Dios”: A Simple but Essential Prayer for Conscientização

Néstor Quiroa, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

12. A Tango of Militant Hope: “Tenemos esperanza”

Wilfredo Canales, with contributions from Marcell Silva Steuernagel; Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

13. “Jesús Verbo no Sustantivo”: A Liberating Practice of Faith

Néstor Quiroa, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

14. “Mojado”: Toward a New Understanding of Immigration

Néstor Quiroa, Musical Analysis by Marcell Silva Steuernagel Conclusion

Wilfredo Canales, with contributions by Marcell Silva Steuernagel

Appendix 1: Spotify Playlist

Appendix 2: YouTube Playlist

Glossary

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Néstor Quiroa is Associate Professor of Spanish at Wheaton College.