A study of six improvisations on the `ud by Riyad al-S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i

This thesis examines six improvisations (taqasim ) on the `ud (Arabic lute) by one of the major figures of twentieth century Arabic music: Egyptian composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Riyad al-S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i (1906-1981). These taqasim will be placed within the broader chronological context of S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i's life and works. The crux of this thesis is a set of detailed transcriptions of the six taqasim, an analysis of the major themes within them, highlights of S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i's unique and unorthodox treatment of maqam, and a stylistic analysis of S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i's approach to the `ud. Using S&dotbelow;unbat&dotbelow;i's own words and thoughts, the thesis explores the following influences on his six taqasim : (1) Pedagogy, that is, transmission from master to apprentice in the oral tradition as well as the influence of the conservatory, (2) the role of the `ud in Arabic music and its connection with the composer, (3) the influence of technology, specifically film and radio, on his professional and creative work and (4) Islamic, and most notably, Sufi aesthetics. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).