Description

Louisiana’s Angola prison is one of the largest and most brutal maximum-security prisons in the United States. However, it is also known for its significant musical contributions. Instrument of the State combines oral histories and archival research to piece together an account of how prisoners at Angola have used music for over 120 years. This book expands folkloric definitions of prison music and considers the broader musicality of the prison as a way of understanding state power and the fragments of hope and joy that remain in its wake.

CONTENTS

Forewords by Calvin Lewis, Myron Hodges, and Wayne Kramer
List of Figures
Note to the reader
Introduction
The Book as a Multi-Movement Musical Piece
Uncovering Histories
The Musicality of Prison
A Brief Overview of Louisiana Behind Bars
1. Astonishment
2. Association
3. Politics
4. Surfaces
5. Inflection
6. Recapitulation
Notes
Bibliography
Index