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Following the conquest of Mexico by Cortés and much of Central America by Alvarado, cathedral churches were established throughout the region, all with European-style polyphonic choirs. Among the most important of these early centers of Spanish culture was the cathedral of Guatemala City, where polyphony was already in use in the 1540s.

Shortly after 1600, the organist and choir director of the cathedral collected, organized, and copied into choirbooks all of the then-extant music used by the choir. The manuscript presented here in modern edition, one of at least five choirbooks prepared at the time, contains a number of otherwise unknown works by such major Old World composers as Francisco Guerrero and Cristóbal de Morales. Significant works by Hernando Franco and Pedro Bermúdez, choirmasters of the Guatemala City Cathedral, are also included. The manuscript presents a unified repertory for Holy Week and for the Salve services in Lent, including four settings of the Passion, for which the Spanish were famous throughout Christendom. Some of the works predate the sixteenth-century reform of the Roman Breviary and Missal, among them the original versions of several Vespers hymns and Magnificat settings by Guerrero that are otherwise known only in later versions found in Spanish sources.An extensive historical introduction by Robert J. Snow discusses the formation of the cathedral's musical repertory and illuminates both Old and New World practices of sixteenth-century Spanish liturgical music. ... Read more

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These guides were prepared for normal travel use in normal times. The present edition is published in wartime, when all travel is seriously curtailed. However, the publishers feel that by presenting the guides now they are performing a dual service, not only to the cause of inter-American understanding, but also to "The New World Guides" and to the travelling public for whom they were written. ... Read more

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The dozen tales in this book were collected from Guatemalan informants early in the twentieth century recorded in the words of the storytellers. They come down to us unfiltered by anthropologists, writers, or professional folklorists. The tales make up a fascinating collection that informs in significant and creative ways how the Maya view their world and how they were engaged with the greater world around them in insightful and often humorous ways. They offer transformations, ogres, anthropomorphic animals, mountains and caves, and supernatural explanations for natural phenomena, along with the origins of modes of dress and behavior, medical rituals, and tales that carry folk interpretations of the Popul Vuh, the ancient Maya creation myth.

Elin C. Danien's introductory essay includes biographical information about the collectors, suggestions of pre-Columbian roots for the tales, and a history of the previous restricted publication. Her explanations of cultural behavior enhance the human qualities of the actors without transgressing the storytellers. The early date of these tales makes the book extremely unusual and fresh.

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TR27A reports upon goods used as markers of social status and goods used in ritual. It describes the splendid ornaments and insignia of jade, shell, pearls, and inscribed bone shown in representations on monuments and pottery vessels and recovered from the burials of Tikal's elites. Each artifact is described in the text, tabulated, and richly illustrated with drawings and photographs. An accompanying CD-ROM includes updated databases for all recovered objects, enabling the reader to discover detailed relationships between artifact, date, and context. It also includes William R. Coe's drafts of reconstructions of destroyed offerings and typologies for ceremonial lithics and shell "Charlie Chaplin" figurines.

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Selling handicrafts to tourists has brought the Maya peoples of Guatemala into the world market. Vendors from rural communities now offer their wares to more than 500,000 international tourists annually in the marketplaces of larger cities such as Antigua, Guatemala City, Panajachel, and Chichicastenango. Like businesspeople anywhere, Maya artisans analyze the desires and needs of their customers and shape their products to meet the demands of the market. But how has adapting to the global marketplace reciprocally shaped the identity and cultural practices of the Maya peoples? Drawing on over a decade of fieldwork, Walter Little presents the first ethnographic study of Maya handicraft vendors in the international marketplace. Focusing on Kaqchikel Mayas who commute to Antigua to sell their goods, he explores three significant issues: how the tourist marketplace conflates global and local distinctions. how the marketplace becomes a border zone where national and international, developed and underdeveloped, and indigenous and non-indigenous come together. how marketing to tourists changes social roles, gender relationships, and ethnic identity in the vendors' home communities.Little's wide-ranging research challenges our current understanding of tourism's negative impact on indigenous communities. He demonstrates that the Maya are maintaining a specific, community-based sense of Maya identity, even as they commodify their culture for tourist consumption in the world market. ... Read more

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Occupied continuously for 1,500 years, Tikal was the most important demographic, economic, administrative, and ritual center of its region. The collection of materials recovered at Tikal is the largest and most diverse known from the Lowlands.

This book provides a major body of primary data. The artifacts, represented by such raw materials as chert and shell are classified by type, number, condition, possible ancient use, form, material, size, and such secondary modifications as decoration and reworking, as well as by spatial distribution, occurrence in the various types of structure groups, recovery context, and date. The same format, with the exception of typology, is used for unworked materials such as mineral pigments and vertebrate remains.

While few artifact reports go beyond a catalog of objects organized by type or raw material, this report puts the materials into their past cultural contexts and thus is of interest to a wide range of scholars.

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This book presents the current state of Maya archaeology by focusing on the history of the field for the last 100 years, present day research, and forward looking prescription for the direction of the field. ... Read more

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journey into the tragic consequences of US policy ... Read more

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Enjoy the tales of Latin America--in Spanish and in English!

In Stories from Latin America/Historias de Latinoamerica, we've placed the Spanish and English stories side by side--lado a lado--so you can practice and improve your reading skills in your new language while enjoying the support of your native tongue. This way, you'll avoid the inconvenience of constantly having to look up unfamiliar words and expressions in a dictionary. Read as much as you can understand, and then look to the facing page for help if necessary. As you read, you can check your comprehension by comparing the two versions of the story. You'll also find a bilingual vocabulary list at the end of the book, so you'll have a handy reference for new words.

Stories from Latin America/Historias de Latinoamerica gives you the chance to

• Enjoy 16 fascinating short stories from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and more
• Fine-tune your language skills while gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage of the people of Latin America
• Improve your reading and listening skills with free audio downloads of four chapters from the book at mhprofessional.com

Genevieve Barlow is an experienced Spanish educator and author. ... Read more

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The thirteen original essays in this collection evaluate the role of elections in the development of democracy in the nations of Central America: Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama. Exploring the region's transformation over the last fifteen years from dictatorial to electoral rule, this volume of new essays is a major expansion and reworking of Elections and Democracy in Central America, published by the UNC Press in 1989.

The essays reevaluate the status of democratization in each country over the last six years, including the transition to civilian rule in Panama. In addition to the country-by-country analysis, the book includes topical chapters on comparative voting behavior, the impact of outside election observers, and the roles of foreign actors and elites in the election process. Although the contributors express skepticism about the prospects for some countries to consolidate democracy, they are, on the whole, optimistic about Central America's democratic future. ... Read more

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This book deals with the period of Guatemalan history between the U.S.-backed overthrow of the Arbenz regime in 1954 and the establishment of the civil-military national-security state in 1970. Specifically, it treats the regime of General Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes, the one-time functionary of the dictator, Jorge Ubico (1931-1944), who sought to install a more open, democratic political system in Guatemala during the period from 1957 to 1963. His experiment in democratic pluralism, which came to an end when he was overthrown by the military in 1963, opened the door to the military-dominated regimes which followed. " Misunderstood Caudillo" outlines the variety of reasons why this flawed experiment in democracy ultimately failed. This is explained by the over-politicization of a wide spectrum of political "power contenders" which Ydigoras allowed to operate within the restricted, but highly charged environment of the Central American city-state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Caudillo-strongman. (Guatemala) On Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes: reply to inquiry.
On a search engine I read a request for more information from Mike Y., grandson of Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes, so here goes.

From the title alone "Misunderstood Caudillo" Caudillo meaning-strongman. it's not quite clear what the book is about as listed , the complete title continues: Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes and the failure of democracy in Guatemala.Such a title may lead one at first glance to think the book to be recriminatory in nature attributing blame for such a failure to Ydigoras (Guate. pres. 1958-1963)but such is not the case.Perhaps such a leading title was in part due to so much controversy and mixed and even contradictory information that has been written by various factions with various agendas and varying levels ofaccuracy and falsehoods or of insights into the true character and nature of the man.
The contents of the book present the reader with a better understanding of actual events and the turbulent realities of the time that were faced.
As a scholarly work by Dr. Ebel, it is to be commended for the extensive presentation of the political events encountered and thourough referencing of footnotes.
I highly recommend this book.
In response to the request for more information from another reader:One of my grandfathers early memoirs written in Spanish. "Primavera" (springtime) about the early years of his life, does reveal insight into his basic character that was appreciated by his family. In it there is a story of once while a young road construction worker he was caught with a copy of"white papers" in his back pocket, and the tense moments he had trying not to get in trouble by the military superior who questioned perhaps they were "red papers" (ideological differences could end up getting one in trouble)The "white papers" turned out to be a papal encyclical on labor relations,and fair practices. Even as a young man MYF was educating himself on the better ways of accomplishing the betterment of his country.
Also in response to the request for more information.What is seldom noted in other web search matches but touched upon in Ebels book was his participation in the Paris Peace conference which resulted in the treaty of versailles.He was also a founding member of the League of nations, ambassador to Britain in the '40s during and post WWII.Of further interest is the "sway" in the UN resolution vote for the Palestine Partition resolution of November 29 1947.
In a 1963 Prentice Hall book whose contents accuracy was approved by US secrt. Adolf Berle there is mention pg221,222 of the US being alerted to the presense of missle sites in cuba by MYF's intelligence but not only of the generally now discussedsites but also of secret submarine shelters.In 2003 Discovery channel did air a special entitled, "The secret subs of the cuban missile crisis" but no credit or mention was made of such as per, Berle.

As for Misunderstood Caudillo, its not a feel good inspirational biography, although there are some kind quotes. It's actually frustrating, but this is one of the strengths of the book.Let me clarify, the book is easy to read what it does so well is lets the reader take on the burden of leadership and feel the frustration. It so effectively conveyes the serious complex and ongoing challenges and pressures faced by MYF.
Ydigoras Fuentes did indeed in person inspire, comfort and labor endlessly to better his country.As to more on his diplomatic activities beyond the Bay of Pigs, the UN and elsewhere... florida is too pivotal due to the latino voter rep/to/dem ratio due to the bay of pigs...and...it's getting a bit too close to the 60th anniversary of..so, that will have to do for now.
For those fond of Guate.may I recommend visiting the Hospital Infantil Maria Teresa (MYF's wife) it's our attempt at a St. Jude's. annecdote: As a child my grandmother(born Dec. 25) would point to the sliver of a new moon and say it was God's fingernail.

Sabertech
Queiro saber ie: Want to know more? Mike Ydigoras, grandson of subject. ... Read more

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In this new analysis of Honduran social and political development, Darío Euraque explains why Honduras escaped the pattern of revolution and civil wars suffered by its neighbors Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Within this comparative framework, he challenges the traditional Banana Republic 'theory' and its assumption that multinational corporations completely controlled state formation in Central America. Instead, he demonstrates how local society in Honduras's North Coast banana-exporting region influenced national political development.

According to Euraque, the reformism of the 1970s, which prevented social and political polarization in the 1980s, originated in the local politics of San Pedro Sula and other cities along the North Coast. Moreover, Euraque shows that by the 1960s, the banana-growing areas had become bastions of liberalism, led by local capitalists and organized workers. This regional political culture directly influenced events at the national level, argues Euraque. Specifically, the military coup of 1972 drew its ideology and civilian leaders from the North Coast, and as a result, the new regime was able to successfully channel popular unrest into state-sponsored reform projects. Based on long-ignored sources in Honduran and American archives and on interviews, the book signals a major reinterpretation of modern Honduran history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book!!
They sent a great book, perfect condition and great delivery timing!
Thanks a bunch!! ... Read more

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Book Review

Many people merely dream of traveling around the world. This highly unusual man acts on his dreams. Every time he starts to wonder about an interesting place he has not been, he simply packs his bags, grabs a camera and goes to the airport to claim his seat. Soon he is in Brazil, China, Africa or anywhere there are people to meet, things to see and do, like taking pictures, buying art, shaking hands, asking questions and being entertained by professional guides and story tellers. "Hello, how are you, good to meet you. I'm Leon Freeman from Memphis, Tennessee." I found his introduction by a tribesman in Papua New Guinea as a cousin the most striking story of them all.

Mr. Freeman retired from his school teaching career and immediately set out to explore the world. Over the years he visited five continents, sixty-two countries and a string of islands ringing the globe like pearls. He discovered one satisfying fundamental fact: in human essence, we are all one. Whatever differences there might be in our outer physical appearance or our diverse cultural extensions, there are no qualitative differences to the principle: 'all human babies are created equal.'

In this picture book, Mr. Freeman provides the viewer with unforgettable, vicarious experiences to enjoy time and time again for many years to come.

- Maia Jaribu Ajanaku, SMU - Retired Teacher, Entrepreneur ... Read more