The interstitial, musical authenticity, and social identity

Resumo

This paper explores the process of musical authentication by examining the reactions of music experts and audiences to the music of an interstitial (inter-genre) New York group, "Los Cubanos Postizos". Contrary to expectations based on characteristics of postmodern art, social globalization, and the complicated nature of the group itself, issues of musical authenticity appear to be important to the band’s reviewers and audience. Of 54 print, web, and interview commentaries examined, 40 address authenticity by means of one or more of the following four criteria: artistic intent, technical musical characteristics, musical emotion, and the credentials of the artists. This suggests the continuing relevance of authentication to the formation and maintenance of group identities in contemporary society.