Articles originally published in: The Garland encyclopedia of world music. Vol. 2, South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. 1998.

Compact disc track list: p. 537-543.

pt. 1. Introduction to the music cultures of the region. A profile of the lands and people of Latin America / Dale A. Olsen -- Studying Latin American music / Dale A. Olsen -- pt. 2. Issues and processes in the music of Latin America. The distribution, symbolism, and use of musical instruments / Dale A. Olsen -- Musical genres and contexts / Anthony Seeger -- Social structure, musicians, and behavior / Anthony Seeger -- Musical dynamics / Anthony Seeger -- Music of immigrant groups / Dale A. Olsen -- pt. 3. Nations and musical traditions. Caribbean Latin America. Cuba / Olavo Alen Rodríguez -- Haiti / Gage Averill and Lois Wilcken -- The Dominican Republic / Martha Ellen Davis -- Puerto Rico / Hector Vega Drouet. Questions for critical thinking: Caribbean Latin American music. Middle Latin America. Mexico / Daniel E. Sheehy -- Tarahumara / J. Richard Haefer -- Guatemala / Linda O'brien-Rothe -- Panama / Ronald R. Smith -- Kuna / Sandra Smith -- Questions for critical thinking: Middle Latin American music. South America. The music of South America / Dale A. Olsen -- The tropical-forest region / Anthony Seeger -- Venezuela / Max H. Brandt -- Warao / Dale A. Olsen -- Brazil: central and southern areas / Suzel Ana Reily -- Afro-Brazilian traditions / Gerard Béhague -- Paraguay / Timothy D. Watkins -- Argentina / Ercilia Moreno Chá -- Mapuche / Carol E. Robertson -- Bolivia / Henry Stobart -- Peru / Raúl R. Romero -- Q'eros / John Cohen and Holly Wissler -- Afro-Peruvian traditions / William David Tompkins -- Questions for critical thinking: South American music. Conclusion / Dale A. Olsen -- Questions for critical thinking: Latin American music. Glossary -- A guide to publications -- A guide to recordings -- A guide to films and videos -- Notes on the audio examples -- Index.