Questions: Sheehy- Mexico (Garland Encyclopedia of Latin American Music)

1 What are the four major periods in Mexican music history?

2 What are the most prominent Mexican Ancient civilizations? How do we know about
them in today? (Give dates)
3 What types of instruments point to the existence of polyphony in Pre-conquest Mexico?
What types of instruments were introduced during the colonial period?
4 Make a list of some ancient Aztec instruments? (Give Nahuatl as well as English
names)
5 Which of these instruments did the Aztecs consider most important and why?
6 For what type of events was music mainly used, in Aztec culture?
7 What is the Historia general de las cosas de Nueva Espana? What information can we
gather from this source about Aztec music?
8 Define cuicalli.
9 When and where did Cortes arrive in Mexico?
10 Why were black slaves brought to Mexico during the colonial period and what is their
impact on Mexican music?
11 Amongst the Listening examples i- xii (listened to in class), which is representative of
the European fine art music cultivated in the colonial period?
12 Who were the criollos and mestizos of New Spain? What music genres did they create
during the late 18th century- early 19th century?
13 What types of music thrived in during the Independence Period?
14 Name some of the most famous Mexican Art music composers of the 20th century and
their works. What was the source of inspiration for the indigenista movement?