Abstract
Beirut is an old city, historically and socially linked with traditional values and institutions of the Near East.' Yet, particularly before the civil war, which began in the middle 1970s, this Mediterranean port community has been known for its distinctly modern character and long exposure to Western ways of life. This article illustrates the manner in which music-related expressions currently used in Beirut, and to some extent neighboring Arabic-speaking areas, have been affected by modern as well as traditional facets of musical life. These expressions are examined in terms of their literal meanings, connotations, contexts of usage, and the outlooks they represent. Subsequently, the article provides concluding remarks about musical attitudes expressed in the city's language.
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