Music of Morocco: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959

A rare sonic journey across Morocco, captured in 1959 by author and composer Paul Bowles during a landmark Library of Congress field recording expedition.

From July to December 1959, Paul Bowles crisscrossed Morocco making recordings of traditional music under the auspices of the Library of Congress. Although the trip occupied less than six months in a long and busy career, it was the culmination of Bowles’s longstanding interest in North African music. Traveling an estimated 25,000 miles across the country, he documented an extraordinary range of vocal and instrumental traditions—from Berber highland chants to Andalus-influenced city ensembles—documenting a sonic portrait of Morocco before modernization altered its cultural fabric.

Bowles observed that Morocco’s contact with Europe had been “that of conqueror,” and, having been largely unindustrialized, the country retained a remarkable variety of musical forms. This diversity was further enriched by historical ties to Mauritania and Senegal, resulting in a unique blend of Arabic, Berber, and sub-Saharan influences. His recordings, many of which had never been heard outside the country, remain an inescapable testament to Morocco’s rich musical heritage.

Music of Morocco: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album and stands as both a cultural treasure and an immersive listening experience, offering over four hours of newly restored audio presented alongside a 120-page PDF book with Bowles’s field notes, rare photographs, and detailed annotations.

What’s Included

• 4 hours and 30 minutes of music recorded in 1959 across Morocco
• View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]
• Downloadable audio files of 30+ ensembles and soloists, representing Berber, Arab, Sephardic, Andalusian, and Gnaoua traditions
• 120-page PDF book featuring:
• Photographs, essays, field notes by Paul Bowles
• Introduction by Lee Ranaldo a
• Annotations by Philip Schuyler

Notable Artists & Performers

• Rais Ahmed ben Bakrim (Tiznit) – A bowed-lute player and singer captured in a memorable moment when, during the playback of a recording, he "had a fit of laughter which so affected him that he fell over backwards” — a deeply human moment preserved forever in the liner notes.
• Rais Mahamad ben Mohammed and Ensemble (Tamanar, Haha tribe) – This ensemble provides one of the set’s most evocative field recordings, titled Chorus and dance, recorded in Essaouira.
• Moqaddem Mohammed ben Salem and Ensemble (Zagora) – Featured on both parts of the "Highlands – The Berbers" sections, their performances, like “Third Sqel,” exemplify the musical traditions Bowles was keen to preserve.

Praise & Reviews

Grammy nominee for Best Historical Album

“This 4-disc box set… offers an eye-opening and immersive introduction to Moroccan music.”

— Pitchfork (Best New Reissue, 8.9/10)

“Highlights Bowles’s urgent dedication to capturing Morocco's folk music during a period of rapid modernization… a fight against time.”

— The New Yorker

“...It’s an astounding piece of work... Bowles’ recordings bring the musicians rushing into the room. Their depth, detail, and presence is striking… Simply put, they’re as wonderful as can be.”

— The Hum Blog

“...Veering gently between the most trance-inducing, celebratory, and heart-rending sounds… it feels something like what many ‘out’ psychedelic lovers probably think they’re doing... a true and explosive feeling from which it is hard to walk away without both mind and heart expanded.”

— The Quietus

“...Dust-to-Digital have done an incredible service to the work of Bowles and to the listener/collector with this release. Not only do these recordings sound as fresh as the day they were performed/recorded, the packaging is just breathtaking.”

— The Big Takeover