Instruments of Empire: Filipino Musicians, Black Soldiers, and Military Band Music during US Colonization of the Philippines by Mary Talusan (review).

"Instruments of Empire: Filipino Musicians, Black Soldiers, and Military Band Music during US Colonization of the Philippines" by Mary Talusan explores the forgotten story of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) Band, led by African American US military officer Lt. Walter H. Loving during the early 20th century. Talusan examines the racial and cultural anxieties of the time and the intersection of music, culture, race, and politics. The book highlights the fragility of racial ideologies in imperialist America and the alliance between Black people and Filipino diasporic communities. It also discusses the PC Band's negotiation of American society and their reclamation of agency despite America's failure to recognize their cultural work. Talusan's work contributes to the scholarly literature on music, culture, and race relations, providing valuable insights for researchers in various disciplines. [Extracted from the article]