Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Así se alaba a Dios: Music in Religious Service at a Latino Evangelical Protestant Church in Southern Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Latino immigration to the American South and Southern Appalachia has increased dramatically in recent decades. Between 1980 and 2000 the Latino population of Appalachia tripled to 495,000 and continues to grow. As a result, Latino immigrants, mostly Mexican, are changing the visual and cultural landscape of Appalachia. Most academic studies of Latino Protestants have focused on regions like the Southwest, which has had a Latino presence for much longer. Despite 20th century notions of a homogenous Appalachia, the region has always been a meeting ground for people and traditions of many cultures. Now Latino immigration is helping to revitalize communities that have experienced significant out-migration. The study of Latinos in Appalachia is increasing; however most scholars have focused on demographics and labor, and few have focused on religion. This proposed paper will examine the role of music in religious service in Latino Evangelical Protestant churches in Southern Appalachia. It will use the qualitative methods of participant observation of Spanish-language service at an Evangelical church and personal interview of its members in order to examine the role of music in worship, the origin and transmission of religious music, and the meaning of music in terms of affect, intention, interpretation, and evaluation. Protestant Latino/Hispanic Americans merit study as they are a double minority: a racial minority within the U.S. and Appalachia, and a religious minority within Latinos, who are mostly Catholic. Thus this paper will help to illuminate not only the ethnic diversity of Appalachia, but also its religious diversity.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Ben Duvall-Irwin is a Master's student in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University. He is interested in the cultural hybridity and cross-cultural connections of Appalachian music and the experience of Latinos/Hispanics in Appalachia.
Así se alaba a Dios: Music in Religious Service at a Latino Evangelical Protestant Church in Southern Appalachia
Latino immigration to the American South and Southern Appalachia has increased dramatically in recent decades. Between 1980 and 2000 the Latino population of Appalachia tripled to 495,000 and continues to grow. As a result, Latino immigrants, mostly Mexican, are changing the visual and cultural landscape of Appalachia. Most academic studies of Latino Protestants have focused on regions like the Southwest, which has had a Latino presence for much longer. Despite 20th century notions of a homogenous Appalachia, the region has always been a meeting ground for people and traditions of many cultures. Now Latino immigration is helping to revitalize communities that have experienced significant out-migration. The study of Latinos in Appalachia is increasing; however most scholars have focused on demographics and labor, and few have focused on religion. This proposed paper will examine the role of music in religious service in Latino Evangelical Protestant churches in Southern Appalachia. It will use the qualitative methods of participant observation of Spanish-language service at an Evangelical church and personal interview of its members in order to examine the role of music in worship, the origin and transmission of religious music, and the meaning of music in terms of affect, intention, interpretation, and evaluation. Protestant Latino/Hispanic Americans merit study as they are a double minority: a racial minority within the U.S. and Appalachia, and a religious minority within Latinos, who are mostly Catholic. Thus this paper will help to illuminate not only the ethnic diversity of Appalachia, but also its religious diversity.
