Composing for the State: Music in Twentieth-Century Dictatorships

Esteban Buch (Editor), Igor Contreras-Zubillaga (Editor), Manuel Deniz Silva (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Under the dictatorships of the twentieth century, music never ceased to sound. Even when they did not impose aesthetic standards, these regimes tended to favour certain kinds of art music such as occasional works for commemorations or celebrations, symphonic poems, cantatas and choral settings. In the same way, composers who were more or less ideologically close to the regime wrote pieces of music on their own initiative, which amounted to a support of the political order.
This book presents ten studies focusing on music inspired and promoted by regimes such as Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, France under Vichy, the USSR and its satellites, Franco's Spain, Salazar's Portugal, Maoist China, and Latin-American dictatorships. By discussing the musical works themselves, whether they were conceived as ways to provide 'music for the people', to personally honour the dictator, or to participate in State commemorations of glorious historical events, the book examines the relationship between the composers and the State.This important volume, therefore, addresses theoretical issues long neglected by both musicologists and historians: What is the relationship between art music and propaganda? How did composers participate in musical life under the control of an authoritarian State? What was specifically political in the works produced in these contexts? How did audiences react to them? Can we speak confidently about 'State music'? In this way, Composing for the State: Music in Twentieth Century Dictatorships is an essential contribution to our understanding of musical cultures of the twentieth century, as well as the symbolic policies of dictatorial regimes.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationAbingdon
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Number of pages234
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9781315573236, 9781317162643
ISBN (Print)9781472437495, 9780367229214
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jan 2016
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameMusical Cultures of the Twentieth Century
PublisherRoutledge: Taylor & Francis

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