ABSTRACT
In contemporary usage the term politics refers to the interplay of power groups, their leaders, and those aspiring to power within the context of the national state. Politics thus defined is a characteristic of our times. In earlier periods and cultures, long before the rise of the nation state, political relations were often defined by supranational antagonisms and conflicts, such as those between Christians and Mohammedans. With the rise of national and nationalistic concepts in society, governments usually became organized along national lines. Our survey of interrelationships between music and politics begins with an examination of certain aspects of the relationship between music and nationalism. Since musicians tend to travel widely, they sometimes find themselves in situations where they must decide whether their loyalties should belong to their native land or to their country of residence.
