MUSC 3045 - World Music Across Cultures: Advanced: South America

The music of Latin America is as diverse as the multiple ethnicities and languages spoken across the continent. Each and every region, from Mexico to Puerto Rico, from Cuba to Colombia, has given the world a wide array of rhythms and emotions to celebrate life and to experience sorrow. This listening guide is an introduction to a very rich and complex treasure trove of music genres.

Explore collections and resources related to Latin music. A rich variety of cultures and musical styles fall into this category, and while Spanish colonialism introduced a strong Spanish influence to Latino culture—hence the term 'Hispanic'—the musical legacy of Latin American (and U.S. Latino communities) is equally defined by the influences of Indigenous, African, and other European cultures.

The Library of Congress provides online access to a wide variety of digital collections in many formats, including scores, sheet music, event videos, and historic audio recordings. In addition, subject specialists provide context and insight into the diverse and unique collections at the Library through the Music Division's blog In the Muse. This page also provides materials and links to the Hispanic Reading Room's Country Guides to help you expand your research.

Travel through the diverse cultures of Latin America, as represented by artists from Ecuador, Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Texas and California. Enjoy art rich in both tradition and innovation. Features videos, audio recordings, and essays collected by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.