Communicating Protest The Rhetoric of Violeta, Parra, Social Activist Cantora of the Nueva Canci�n

Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Clark, Maribeth

Keywords

Parra, Violeta, Protest Music, Chile

Area of Concentration

Music

Abstract

This paper examines protest music of the Nueva Canci�n (New Song) movement of Latin America through the work of one of its earliest artists: Violeta Parra of Chile. Two major elements of Parra's music are explored, namely, the revival of folk music and the rhetoric of the protest song that is rooted in the folk genre. The political implications of the urban folk music revival and 'authentic' folk music expression are discussed in relation to Parra's roles as musicologist, performer, and composer. Parra's use of folk music to protest and express political ideologies is the first step toward developing a musical style that is unique to the protest song. The rhetoric Parra develops in her protest songs is rooted in folk musical practice and builds on that tradition by expressing the complexities of modem life through simple musical structures. The simplicity of musical construction of Parra's songs like 'La carta' and 'Qu� dir� el Santo Padre' makes it possible for a diverse audience to relate to the message and participate in the 'communion of songs.'

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