Martínez (musicology, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, Spain) and Fouce (communications, U. Complutense de Madrid, Spain) present 15 papers that provide a sampling of work in the
relatively new field of the study of Spanish popular music. Key genres and prominent artists are considered, but the main goal of the collection is to provide historical, social, and cultural
context for understanding the role of popular music in Spanish society. The contributions are presented in four parts that examine the construction and discussion of national identity and
tensions with the defense of regional differences; the roots of Spanish popular music in the colonial past and the creation of ＂national styles;＂ the relationship between tradition and
modernity in Spanish popular music; and the relationship between music and cinema as a tool for understanding cultural patterns and strategies in Spanish popular music. Annotation ©2013 Book
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