The Inevitable Bandstand: The State Band of Oaxaca and the Politics of Sound

The author hopes that understanding the underlying assumptions and theoretical constructs through the use of music as a political tool will not only inform other historians and researchers, but also assist in the understanding of the intricate relationship between the state of Oaxaca, its citizens, and its musical production. However, given the vast socio-economic inequality and political rigidity that exist in the state today, the effectiveness of music as a political tool is difficult to gauge. Furthermore, because of the emotional reaction that music elicits, it is unclear if the state can control the response that music elicits in its citizens.