Instrument of the State

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.