ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the emergence of a syncretic Egyptian film song style in the 1930s that incorporated foreign elements but remained essentially Egyptian in character. Arrangement was the most conservative method Egyptian composers utilized to infuse their songs with foreign elements. More significant was the appropriation and adaptation of forms and styles, such as Argentine tango, that maintain Arabic intonation, timbre, and overall structure. Composers also occasionally employed brief quotation or paraphrases of Western works. This compositional use of foreign musical elements provides a valuable opportunity to examine the process of adaptation as reflecting the agency of the adopting culture.
