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CATEGORIES:Darwin College Lecture Series
SUMMARY:Palestinian Song in Transition: The Interplay of T
 radition and Innovation\, 1936-1948 - Professor Is
 sa Boulos\, University of Chicago
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260306T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260306T183000
UID:TALK235114AThttp://talks.cam.ac.uk
URL:http://talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/235114
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\n\nBetween 1936 and 1948\, Palestinian mu
 sic experienced a transformative period shaped by 
 the establishment of the Palestine Broadcasting Se
 rvice (PBS) and the Near East Broadcasting Station
  (NEBS). These radio stations became influential c
 ultural platforms that enabled Palestinian musicia
 ns to explore\, refine\, and project a national id
 entity through music. They created an ecosystem in
  which diverse traditions could intermingle\, invi
 ting voices from across Palestine and the broader 
 Arab region to contribute to a vibrant musical lan
 dscape. Within this environment\, vocal genres und
 erwent significant evolution\, as traditional folk
  melodies expanded into shaʿbī songs and new forms
  such as the Palestinian Qaṣīda emerged. Instrumen
 tal compositions also flourished\, crafted for bot
 h local and Western ensembles\, while choirs and c
 hildren’s programming deepened the reach of musica
 l production. Palestinian musicians simultaneously
  engaged with Egyptian popular styles and preserve
 d classical traditions\, including the muwashshaḥā
 t. The opportunities for recording and broadcastin
 g provided by PBS and NEBS not only elevated the v
 isibility of Palestinian musicians but also ensure
 d the preservation and dissemination of their work
 s. This cultural renaissance\, marked by innovatio
 n and cross-cultural exchange\, fostered a distinc
 tive Palestinian musical identity that reflected b
 oth regional diversity and local creativity. \n\nB
 iography\n\nIssa Boulos is an internationally accl
 aimed composer\, lyricist\, researcher\, and songw
 riter whose works have been performed worldwide. T
 rained from an early age in piano\, ‘ūd\, and voic
 e\, he later studied composition with Gustavo Leon
 e\, Athanasios Zervas\, and William Russo at Colum
 bia College Chicago\, followed by Robert Lombardo 
 and Ilya Levinson at Roosevelt University. He earn
 ed his PhD in ethnomusicology from Leiden Universi
 ty.\nBoulos is known for blending traditional inst
 ruments with contemporary innovation\, creating mu
 sic for orchestras\, chamber\, and mixed ensembles
 \, as well as hundreds of songs\, several of which
  became hits. His commissions include four works f
 or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra\, a project with
  the Silk Road Ensemble\, and scores for award-win
 ning films\, documentaries\, plays\, and musicals.
 \nHis career spans the United States\, the Middle 
 East\, and Europe\, earning recognition for both p
 erformance and scholarship. He directed the Middle
  East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago 
 for nearly a decade\, co-founded the Qatar Music A
 cademy in 2010 and served as its Head of Music\, a
 nd co-founded the Palestinian Institute for Cultur
 al Development (NAWA). Today\, Boulos is Manager o
 f the Harper College Community Music and Arts Cent
 er\, adjunct music faculty\, and a board member of
  organizations including Amwaj Choir.\n
LOCATION:Lady Mitchell Hall\, Sidgwick Avenue
CONTACT:Janet Gibson
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