Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet's Chile

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Katia Chornik (Research Associate, Centre of Latin American Studies, Research Associate, Centre of Latin American Studies, University of Cambridge)

Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet's Chile

Name: Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet's Chile
Price: 194.95 AUD
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ISBN: 9780190052256

Katia Chornik (Research Associate, Centre of Latin American Studies, Research Associate, Centre of Latin American Studies, University of Cambridge)

$194.95

Hardback

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
13 March 2026

Non-Western music: traditional & "classical"; Human rights

Series: Currents in Latin American and Iberian Music

Over 1,000 political imprisonment and torture centers existed across Chile during the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-90). Music was often present in those centers, both as a response to and part of human rights violations. In this pioneering book, Katia Chornik explores the relationships between music, politics, memory, and human rights, discussing a broad range of music experiences and repertoire and how these are remembered, preserved, and disseminated decades later.

The book probes how pieces written, performed, and listened to in captivity are threaded into survivors' memories of mistreatment, resilience, and experiences beyond resistance. Chornik blends sources from the Cantos Cautivos digital archive with interviews with ex-political prisoners, agents of secret services, and visitors to prisons, proposing the notion of ""memory cacophony"" to describe the discordant kaleidoscope of voices, memories, repertoire, and experiences unveiled. Chornik demonstrates how music, as an expression of powerful lived experiences, is an essential component of the cultural history and legacy of the Pinochet period.

By: Katia Chornik (Research Associate Centre of Latin American Studies Research Associate Centre of Latin American Studies University of Cambridge)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 431g
ISBN: 9780190052256
ISBN 10: 0190052252
Series: Currents in Latin American and Iberian Music
Pages: 184
Publication Date: 13 March 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Further / Higher Education , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Katia Chornik grew up in the Chilean diaspora as her parents experienced political detention and exile under Pinochet. She is the author of Alejo Carpentier and the Musical Text (2015) and numerous academic and media articles on Latin American politics, culture, history, and society, and is the founder of the Cantos Cautivos digital archive. She has worked for UNESCO and in the university, public, and cultural sectors, and is affiliated with Cambridge's Centre for Latin American Studies.

Reviews for Music and Political Imprisonment in Pinochet's Chile

This work documents historical facts and invites deep reflection on the transformative power of music and memory. The meticulous research, ethical commitment, and profound empathy embedded in every page ensure that the voices of those silenced are preserved and honored. [...] To the readers, I encourage you to approach this book with an open heart and a reflective mind. Allow the stories to move you, challenge your perspectives, and deepen your understanding of resilience and the human spirit. This is not only a journey into the past but also an opportunity to reflect on our present and build a more just and compassionate world for everyone. * Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Former President of Chile, 2006–2010, 2014–2018, Former Executive Director of UN Women, 2010–2013, Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2018–2022' * This work documents historical facts and invites deep reflection on the transformative power of music and memory. The meticulous research, ethical commitment, and profound empathy embedded in every page ensure that the voices of those silenced are preserved and honored. [...] To the readers, I encourage you to approach this book with an open heart and a reflective mind. Allow the stories to move you, challenge your perspectives, and deepen your understanding of resilience and the human spirit. This is not only a journey into the past but also an opportunity to reflect on our present and build a more just and compassionate world for everyone. * Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Former President of Chile, 2006-2010, 2014-2018, Former Executive Director of UN Women, 2010-2013, Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2018-2022' *