Vivir la Música: Spanish cultural identity examined through the lens of Spanish classical piano music

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Rachel B Summers (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Paul Stewart

Abstract: Spanish cultural identity is examined, with the purpose of providing a possible answer to the very complex question of “what does it mean to be Spanish?”. This is achieved through the analysis of Spanish classical piano music, using techniques from ethnomusicology, music psychology, linguistics, and linguistic anthropology. Music, while not explicitly communicative like language, has communicative, representational, and referential abilities and therefore is examined using theories from linguistics and linguistic anthropology. The anthropologist’s understanding of the theory of linguistic relativity (Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis) is slightly rewritten, with language replaced by music, to show how music, thought, and culture have a mutually influential relationship. The implications of this relationship for Spanish culture and music are examined, with special emphasis on two of the major works of Spanish piano music: Enrique Granados's Goyescas, and Isaac Albéniz's Iberia.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Language: English
Date: 2015
Keywords
musicology, ethnomusicology, Spanish music, Spanish culture, music psychology, music and emotion, music and culture, linguistic relativity, linguistic anthropology, Enrique Granados, Goyescas, Isaac Albéniz, Iberia

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