Introduction

The Americas are a strong example of the intense connection between music and politics. Beyond the state-driven attempts in the Americas to link musical production to the official narration of the nation, massive, innovative musical movements have emerged since the 20th century that provide countercultural and alternative narrations of the social context. The music was also used as a source of inspiration in the actual revolutionary war fought against Rhodesia. Music as a medium for narrating the social has gained global recognition. Religious, ethnic, environmental, and women movements have been a major contributing factor to breaking with traditional concepts of the social, as well as inducing change. Music frequently takes on a seismographic function and narrates to a larger public the presence of social crisis through the act of performance. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.