Resumen de Josepa Cucó, Antonio Ariño, Isabel de la Cruz, Pilar Luz y Fernando Ros: músicos y festeros valencianos
Músicos y festeros valencianos includes four essays written by five different authors. The essays center on the social aspect of music and feast in the País Valencià (a region in the eastern part of Spain). It is a good tool for the anthropologist or etnomusicologist interested in the social web behind the periodical celebration of feasts. The first three chapters give official figures on musical asociations and different types of feasts and describe the social milieu of the wind bands in the region. Although these chapters center on musical associations, focus on the social aspect is mantained and musical comments are thoroughly avoided. The rather obscure writing style may be a problem for those without a good knowledge of spanish.
The last chapter of the book, written by Antonio Ariño describes and analyzes four different feasts. The 100-page essay shows a good knowledge of the data and a fine writing style. This last essay is extremely interesting throughout and definitely helps to gain a good insight of the social structure that secures the periodic celebration of the feasts. Furthermore, it offers nice descriptions of the different rituals involved. Mr Ariño, nevertheless, leaves out all reference to music in his essay, rather a pity considering music's crucial role in the valencian celebrations.
