Musical Variation in Morocco Andalusian Music in Marrakech

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Musical Variation in Morocco - Andalusian Music in Marrakech



Morocco has become an important space of cultural exchange between the Arab world, Europe, Africa, and the Amazighs. This cultural variation has lead Morocco to have a varied and rich musical heritage which represents all the peoples that make up Moroccan society. There are three main musical styles in Morocco, namely Andalusian music, Gnawa music and the Dekka el marrakchia. In this article, I will focus on Andalusian music.

Morocco is the Maghribian country heavily impregnated by the Arab-Andalusians and that, for quite simple and obvious reasons: the geographical proximity with Spain, as well as the intervention of the current dynasty of Morocco in Andalusia. The settlement in Morocco of the large majority of Andalusians, coming from important Spanish cities, such as Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Valencia or Granada, after the 1609 decree that ordered the expulsion of "Moriscos" or Moorish from the Spanish peninsula, as well as the role of sponsorship of the Andalusian artists and musicians by Alaouite dynasty, the absence of secular Ottoman colonization and a brief French colonization, significantly ensured artistic continuity.

According to historian Bernard Lugan, specialist in African history, during the eight centuries of Muslim presence in Andalusia, seven of them were closely related to Morocco. Because of its geographical location, Morocco has always been a natural place of trade between Europe, Africa and the Arab-Muslim world.

The Andalusian non-Christians (Muslims and Jews) began to leave Andalusia in the 11th century, during the reign of Alfonso VI, king of Leon and Castile. The last group was that of the Moors, who had, in principle, converted to Christianity to avoid being deported.

Because of its crucial position, especially spiritual, Fez became home to many Jewish and Muslim refugees from Toledo, Cordoba (which fell to the Spanish in the 12th century) and Seville (taken in the 13th century). One of the districts in Fez is known as the "Andalusian Quarter". Cities like Tetouan was completely rebuilt and repopulated by refugees from Granada.

The Moriscos settled in Rabat and Sal� corsairs formed republics which carried successful piracy and raiding enterprises that allowed them to negotiate with many countries, including Spain, Portugal, France, England, Holland, and Iceland.

Many communities still identify themselves as Moroccan Andalusian. Surnames such as Diaz, Andaloussi, Torres, Toledano, Kortobi, Molina, and Nigno resonate and preserve this heritage.

The orchestras of Fez, Tangiers and Tetouan still use the instruments traditionally used in Andalusian music that date back to the ninth century, such as the lute, the "rebab", the goblet drum or "darbuka", the tambourine or "taarija", the zither or "qanun", and the violin or "kamenjah". In Morocco, Andalusian music is also called the "al-�la" and has long been encouraged and promoted by official authorities.

If you want to experience Andalusian music first hand, come to Marrakech and enjoy its enormously rich and carried musical heritage. Many restaurants and hotels in Marrakech [1] host Moroccan traditional music every evening, and a number of typical Marrakech riads [2] also have their own Andalusian music shows and performances
emploi à tetouan