Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 4, No. 12 (1930-09)

September, 1930, Vol. IV, No. 12 399 From the Rio Grande to Cape Horn By W. S. MARSH A survey of the recorded music of Latin America B ELOW the Southern boundary of the United States there lies a vast territory, to a con- sciousness of which we are just beginning to awaken, especially since Col. Charles Lind- bergh’s airplane tour of its northern portion. The countries comprising this territory have pro- gressed tremendously during the past decade, in population, in commerce, in education, in science, in literature, and in all the arts. Although they are our neighbors, and purchase from us immense quantities of merchandise, to many they are more truly “foreign” than if separated from us by an ocean. But we are beginning to learn more of these neighbors over whom, shines the Southern Cross. Our interest is becoming intrigued; and those who can are setting out to learn still more by actual visits—and there are many points of interest to the traveler. Furthermore, an extensive program of building good roads has been laid out, to make travel easy for the motorist. As an agent for increasing sympathy, knowledge and understanding, Music again comes as an Am- bassador of Good Will; for as we listen (if music is anything more to us than “a plaything for women and a pastime for men”), we are led al- most inevitably to inquire, “What of the people who are responsible for these melodies, harmonies, and rhythms?” And as we listen sympathetically, we can, perhaps, sense the beating of their hearts, the stirring of theii? minds and souls, if we heed the inclination to learn more about them, their history, their traditons, and their aspirations: For Man and Music can never be separated. And so we turn again to our old friend, the phonograph, that, though we are perchance forced td remain at home, yet we may listen to some of the music of Latin America. Although we look in vain for recordings of the most important and significant compositions, by the many and bril- liant and talented composers, there is still much of interest in the folk songs, dances, and lighter composed music, that is melodious and entertain- ing. Brazil was settled by the Portuguese, and Portu- guese is the language that prevails there. In Guadaloupe, Martinique, and Haiti is found the French influence. But Spaniards settled all the other southern countries and gave them their language. One would, therefore, naturally expect to (and does) find a Spanish flavor in some of this music. The Indian, except in a few localities, had made little impression musically, as the penta- tonic scale upon which his melodies are built makes for uninteresting monotony. Curiously enough, the ubiquitous Negro has exercised the strongest influence, especially in rhythm. But the people of Latin America have not been slavishly dependent on others: Out of loneliness and suffering they have evolved a music all their own—a new and different language of song and melody. Let us, therefore, step across the Rio Grande, and see what we can discover in our neighboring country, Mexico. By some it is thought that the primitive people of the Americas came over from Asia; others be- lieve them to have originated and developed where the white man found them. Be that as it may, when the Spaniards descended on Mexico they found a civilization that had been in existence since before Christ walked the earth—a civiliza- tion that was well governed in civic and social life, with an excellent moral code, and a religion that, although disfigured by horrible human sacrifice, sufficed the particular temperament of the people better, perhaps, than that which was forced upon them as a substitute. Here mathematics, cho- nology, writing, architecture, and sculpture were in a well-advanced state. Of the various peoples found in this vicinity, the Aztecs were the most dynamic and aggressive, but though they domi- nated, they intermarried with, and assimilated the best in knowledge and culture of the peoples whom they brought under subjection. We cannot help but regret that this remarkable civilization should have been extinguished by such bloody butchery as history has recorded. Neverthe- less, we must not forget that the Spaniards, far from home, among hordes of (to them) savages, may have considered necessary the methods used to gain control of the country. The conquistadores were not by any means merely plunderers. They too suffered and died—for what to them appeared to be right. They performed an incalculable ser- vice by bringing seeds and domestic animals into the country. Without their persistent efforts, it is difficult to estimate how long both North and South America would have been closed to the white races. So inextricably has Spain been connected with the earlier development of the two continents that her music, and the music of the regions where her culture has impressed itself, ought to hold an intense interest for us. And so we find in Mexico today people of un- adulterated Spanish blood; the half-breed ( mes- tizo ), descendant of white and Indian; and the full-blooded Indian. There is also an admixture of Negro blood.