The following is an excerpt from Sin Nombre: Hispana & Hispano Artists of the New Deal Era by Tey Marianna Nunn (University of New Mexico Press, 2001), here published with the permission of the author. Please note that any reproduction of the following without the author's permission is unauthorized.

FEDERAL MUSIC PROJECT was formed as both an education and performance entity. Its national director was Dr. Nikolai Sokoloff . At its inception, the project was divided to run on a regional basis but later was administered at the state level under the name of WPA Music Project. (Now K's input) Numerous well known symphonies in existence today (examples: Oklahoma Symphony, Utah Symphony) began as a Federal Music Project activity. Musicians were paid to perform, teach, write, and copy scores of music nationwide. In New Mexico and other states orchestras, bands, and choral groups were sponsored and such projects were adjuncts to much needed music programs in the public schools. Musical activities were also sponsored in some of the nation's CCC camps and the Federal Music Program collaborated with the WPA Writers Project to collect and research the folk songs and dances of various ethnic cultures around the nation. Some of the NM Federal Art Project artists did illustrations for the material published. Some of this research was conducted in conjunction with local universities. Much of the material from these activities can now be found in the Library of Congress.

Please see the Book Section - Music

More to come. . .