ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by presenting a survey of the modernization processes that had taken place in the domain of Arab music in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia prior to the modernization initiatives occurring in Libya. Such processes had their own impact on the modernization of the Libyan Ma'lūf. The author's early perceptions of the tradition were that the Ma'lūf az-zwiya differed from the Ma'lūf al-Idhā῾a in melodies, texts, rhythms and many other ways. The chapter discusses the Araibi's musical career and work which provides a context for his project within the wider scenario of Libya's social and political life in the early 1960s. The chapter sheds light on Libya's cultural policies during the Gaddafi era and the impact of these on the Ma'lūf. It highlights issues such as: the individual musician vis-a-vis the formal set-up of both the institute and the ensemble to which he belongs; the Ma'lūf as a commodity; recruitment and training; and rehearsal practices.
