The many ways of Puerto Rican community music

Abstract

For several decades, scholars in the field of community music have largely concentrated on community music practices in the Global North. Such interest has not been as prevalent in certain parts of the world, like the Caribbean. Consequently, this qualitative multiple case study focuses on three Puerto Rican community music initiatives that foster the country’s indigenous music: Bomba, Plena, and Música Campesina. Scholars have documented the evolution and characteristics of these musical traditions. In contrast, this article centers around the practices of Taller Tambuyé, a female-led Bomba organization, Decimanía, a national Música Campesina initiative that funds other community music projects, and La Junta, a community-based project tied to the sector of El Machuchal in the capital of Puerto Rico. This paper presents and analyzes their practices through the lens of Australia’s Sound Links project and its nine domains of community music. The multiple case study methodology’s cross-case analysis revealed notable divergences among the projects in terms of learning practices, promotion of the indigenous music tradition, and the connection between the musical initiative and their community. Additionally, researchers found the framework established by Sound Links to be a comprehensive tool to analyze community music practices outside of Australia.