Heroes, Lovers, and Poet-Singers: The Bedouin Ethos in the Music of the Arab Near-East

This article investigates the music of the eastern Mediterranean Arab world across nomadic, rural, and urban lines, with primary focus on sung poetry. Song genres expressing basic values within this region, particularly among the Bedouin nomads, are examined in specific village and city contexts. The aim is to gain new insights into the ideological and aesthetic components of traditional Arab music and to better understand the recent patterns of urbanization and change in the modern Near East. Assessing current views on nomadic expressive culture and its role in modern life, the research also presents alternative perspectives, particularly regarding oral tradition, the media, and the rural-urban continuum.