Palestinian Song in Transition: The Interplay of Tradition and Innovation, 1936-1948

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• Professor Issa Boulos, University of Chicago
• Friday 06 March 2026, 17:30-18:30
• Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Janet Gibson.

Abstract

Between 1936 and 1948, Palestinian music experienced a transformative period shaped by the establishment of the Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Near East Broadcasting Station (NEBS). These radio stations became influential cultural platforms that enabled Palestinian musicians to explore, refine, and project a national identity through music. They created an ecosystem in which diverse traditions could intermingle, inviting voices from across Palestine and the broader Arab region to contribute to a vibrant musical landscape. Within this environment, vocal genres underwent significant evolution, as traditional folk melodies expanded into shaʿbī songs and new forms such as the Palestinian Qaṣīda emerged. Instrumental compositions also flourished, crafted for both local and Western ensembles, while choirs and children’s programming deepened the reach of musical production. Palestinian musicians simultaneously engaged with Egyptian popular styles and preserved classical traditions, including the muwashshaḥāt. The opportunities for recording and broadcasting provided by PBS and NEBS not only elevated the visibility of Palestinian musicians but also ensured the preservation and dissemination of their works. This cultural renaissance, marked by innovation and cross-cultural exchange, fostered a distinctive Palestinian musical identity that reflected both regional diversity and local creativity.

Biography

Issa Boulos is an internationally acclaimed composer, lyricist, researcher, and songwriter whose works have been performed worldwide. Trained from an early age in piano, ‘ūd, and voice, he later studied composition with Gustavo Leone, Athanasios Zervas, and William Russo at Columbia College Chicago, followed by Robert Lombardo and Ilya Levinson at Roosevelt University. He earned his PhD in ethnomusicology from Leiden University. Boulos is known for blending traditional instruments with contemporary innovation, creating music for orchestras, chamber, and mixed ensembles, as well as hundreds of songs, several of which became hits. His commissions include four works for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a project with the Silk Road Ensemble, and scores for award-winning films, documentaries, plays, and musicals. His career spans the United States, the Middle East, and Europe, earning recognition for both performance and scholarship. He directed the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago for nearly a decade, co-founded the Qatar Music Academy in 2010 and served as its Head of Music, and co-founded the Palestinian Institute for Cultural Development (NAWA). Today, Boulos is Manager of the Harper College Community Music and Arts Center, adjunct music faculty, and a board member of organizations including Amwaj Choir.

This talk is part of the Darwin College Lecture Series series.

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