- Title: FRANCE: Nouba music brings Algerian heritage to a Paris concert
- Date: 20th June 2008
- Summary: SOHEID BENBARSSA IN HER DRESSING ROOM PUTTING MAKE UP ON (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SOHEID BENBARSSA, MUSICIAN AND SINGER WITH THE EL MAWSILI ENSEMBLE, SAYING: "When I was a little girl I used to sing songs by the diva Umm Kulthoum along with my father. I know her repertoire. But with all due respect, I will never be able to get close to what she achieved, but I know some of her songs."
- Embargoed: 5th July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA7W6W7CL3CQAL851MW08XNWXT8
- Story Text: Algerian Nouba music stays faithful to its Muslim Andalusian origins and entrances the audience at the French Arab World Institute in Paris.
Dating back to the 8th century, Andalusian-Arabic Nouba music is kept alive in Europe by France-based Algerian musicians who seek to preserve some of the musical traditions of the Maghreb.
The "El Mawsili" orchestra performed a concert of Nouba music at the Arab World Institute in Paris on Tuesday (June 17), as part of music festival hosting various styles of Arabic music in a week-long affair.
The musical style has its origins in the Andalusian art which was created and developed mainly in the Muslim kingdoms of Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada in the Iberian peninsula more than 12 centuries ago.
The El Mawsili orchestra is run by an association by the same name based in the outskirts of Paris, which aims to revive and introduce old musical traditions of the Maghreb to the 21st century.
The orchestra uses instruments which come from Arabic music, but touches of synthesisers and acoustic guitar have been introduced in this ensemble in an effort to enrich the music with new tonality without losing its original feel.
"The modern instruments are used for their particular sound more than to try and modernise the music. In a way, we are constantly trying to keep a harmonious melody," Farid Benbarssa, the conductor of the orchestra, said during rehearsal.
Nouba music incorporates intricate poetry in its lyrics. Singer Soheid Benbarssa performed a lead role in the concert.
"When I was a little girl I used to sing songs by the diva Umm Kulthoum along with my father. I know her repertoire. But with all due respect, I will never be able to get close to what she achieved, but I know some of her songs," Benbarssa said.
Benbarssa stressed the importance of introducing ancient Nouba music to young Algerians who are familiar mostly with the more popular Rae style.
The orchestra and singers performed in front of a full house.
"This music belongs to the Algerian heritage. The El Mawsili association was created in 1991. It's an association that is well respected and much appreciated by Algerian people but also by all Arabs of the Maghreb," said Djamila Bencheikh, a French resident of North Africa origin who attended the concert.
"It is all very interesting for us. This is part of our tradition.
The young are very receptive to Rae music, but Algerian Nouba is really important to us," said another member of the audience, Yliess Djennad.
The Arab World Institute in Paris was opened in 1987 to bring Arab-French cultural relations closer together. The building's facade combines modern technologies with traditional Arab architecture. It houses a museum which exhibits traditional artefacts and hosts occasional festivals and other cultural events. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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