An Approach to the History of Music Education in Latin America: Part II: Music Education 16th–18th Centuries

Abstract

This article follows up on research published in the Bulletin of Historical Research in Music Education in September 1997, on the subject of music education in Argentina from the sixteenth the eighteenth century. (1) purpose of this second study is provide a general panorama of music teaching in the rest of Latin America during the same period, applying the same methodology and categorization of data. Because the colonizing movement began in the Caribbean Islands and extended across Latin America, examples have been selected give punctual data from different countries that may serve as a basis introduce the tendencies in music education in Latin America. Some similarities and differences between music education in Argentina and in other Latin American countries will be discussed. Institutionalized Music Education previous article on Argentina and a diachronic study on music training Institutions (2) both noted that the Catholic Church exercised an outstanding role in music education during the colonial period. Almost every important ecclesiastical see sustained music training, through chapel masters' action. Different sources provide data refering the insular region, especially in the present Dominican Republic: Since 1512 there were two bishoprics, one of la Vega and the other of Saint Domingo de Guzman, that had chapel masters, organists and choruses. (3) The archdiocese of Santo Domingo was created in 1504 by Julio II's papal bull. Cathedral was finished in 1540. When its construction was authorized in 1512, a chapel master and an organist were included. (4) Similar information has been obtained regarding Cuba. In the decree establishing the music chapel of the Santiago de Cuba Cathedral dated February 10, 1682, Bishop Juan Garcia de Palacios was appointed, to entrust Domingo de Flores, city neighbor, the music in organ chant for the Saint Cathedral. (5) This musician was asked conduct the music activity and teach children and priests, or anyone else who expressed interest, the organ chant in order celebrate Mass in a decent way especially on solemn or festival days. In his contract he was granted seventy-five pesos per year and, ... was obliged by himself and by all the chapel members attend Church and sing vespers and masses on the most solemn days as those of first class, Palm Sundays, Holy Maundy, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, November twenty-nine, Saint Sacrament Fetes and any other celebrations held in such Church as well as those of brotherhoods but at private ones performed by devoted people at which he will have no obligation assist unless he receives a payment according his work. same is understood for fetes performed at convents and hermits. named Domingo Flores will have the duty compose at least one complete mass per year, plus Christmas carols and songs be sung at Church in vespers and in Christmas celebrations. He also has compose for less solemn occasions. (6) In South American territories there were similar situations. It is known that Juan Perez Materano was chapel master in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from 1534 1552. (7) In the Brazilian colony, governed by the Portuguese Crown, the positions of chapel master and two chorus singers were created on December 4, 1551 at the Salvador see by royal letter. On August 17, 1552 the bishop of Salvador had already appointed musicians for the charge. (8) In the Captaincy General of Chile, in the city of Santiago de Chile: In 1725 the Ecclesiastical Cabildo [cathedral chapter] determined the budget create several musician positions for the metropolitan chanting house, including one of chapel master, that will receive a payment of 350 pesos per year, that were increased 408 two months later by Bishop Don Francisco Salcedo, 'with the duty teach music the chorus children and provide lessons all singers, because it was necessary that all clergymen could skillfully sing the plain chant and the organ or polyphonic one, as we have the experience that natives became pious by hearing music and chant. …