"Puerto Rico's rich musical history, often unavailable to those not fluent in Spanish, is chronicled in Donald Thompson's translated text. Music in Puerto Rico: A Reader's Anthology details the Caribbean island's musical roots from Christopher Columbus's second voyage to the New World in the late fifteenth century to twentieth-century developments, and explores a variety of topics, including native instruments, the introduction of music in schools, and urban pop and commercial music.". "Documents from historical figures such as Fray Bartolome de Las Casas and Manuel Alonso have been excerpted and translated. The text also simplifies bibliographical searches, since much of the anthology's material is difficult to locate. Music in Puerto Rico examines the music that is unique to different geographic regions, including mountains and plains.". "Thompson's book is a glimpse into a society in which cultures intersect and magic is born in the form of the salsa. Musicians, historians, students of Spanish, and those interested in the musical foundations of Puerto Ricon life will find Music in Puerto Rico an important resource."--BOOK JACKET.