The Paraguayan polca: adoption, adaption and reimagination

Dicken, M.J.Z (2025) The Paraguayan polca: adoption, adaption and reimagination. PhD thesis, Bath Spa University. doi: 10.17870/bathspa.00017523

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Abstract

The polka arrived in Paraguay from Europe in the mid-nineteenth century following the first Paraguayan state visit to Great Britain and France, and approximately fifteen years before the beginning of the Triple Alliance War (1864-1870). This research project examines the adoption and reimagining of the polka in Paraguay, which transformed it into an emblem of national music identity during the twentieth century. Archival research methods chart the arrival of the European polka and map the growth of the Paraguayan polca, exploring its alignment with socio-cultural values and national identity. The second phase of the research presents an ethnographic study of contemporary music artists in Paraguay (2018-2023), exploring how the Paraguayan polca, a folk music form, is being reimagined in the twenty-first century. Communicating with musicians working in both traditional music groups and contemporary urban environments develops a stronger understanding of how feelings of paraguayidad (the sense of Paraguayan-ness) are expressed in their creative practice. The research addresses the existential question of how contemporary, creative visions of musical tradition can be accepted as the next stage of evolution, while still maintaining an alignment with fundamental, identity-defining cultural roots.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Note:	Multi-media content accompanying this thesis is available via Bath Spa University's data repository, BathSPAdata, via the 'related URLs' link.
Keywords:	ethnomusicology, Paraguay, polka, Paraguayan polca, Paraguayan identity, musical tradition, musical culture
Divisions:	Bath School of Music and Performing Arts
Related URLs:	Research Data
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2026 10:39
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2026 11:05
URN:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/17523

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