No trip to Morocco would be complete without immersing yourself in one of our favorite pass times: music! Singers, live musicians, and drummers are a frequent appearance at Moroccan restaurants.
Through music, one can delve deeply into Moroccan culture and way of life
You'll learn about the historical facets of Morocco and locations that would be difficult to visit on regular trips or with other modes of transportation. Moroccans' daily life are poetically depicted through Berber Music.
The experience of exploring Morocco through its music expresses ideas and emotions that are difficult to describe with words.
This is one of the most significant characteristics of Moroccan culture. Berber and Moroccan musical history tells the story of our ancestors, and weaves the tapestry of our Berber legacy, African ancestry, Arabic traditions, and wholly Moroccan identity.
What can we learn through Morocco's song, drums, and dance?
As you immerse yourself in an environment rich with genuine Moroccan music and culture, this otherworldly musical trip to Morocco with Journey Morocco will introduce you to you a world full of spirituality and beauty that transcends the five senses.
On your tour of Morocco's Music and Dance with Journey Morocco, you'll learn about the historical facets of Morocco and locations that would be difficult to visit on regular trips or with other modes of transportation.
Experience the ancient music of the Berbers in Morocco
The music of the Berbers is an ancient tradition, long predating the arrival of the Arabs in Morocco, and has been passed on orally from generation to generation.
There are three varieties of Berber folk music: village, ritual music, and music performed by professional musicians.
Ritual music of Morocco
The Berbers play ritual music at ceremonies to commemorate marriages and other significant life events. Additionally, it serves to ward off evil spirits—professional musicians (imdyazn) tour in quartets under the direction of poets (amydaz).
The amydaz is a group that performs improvisational poetry, frequently with the help of drums, a one-stringed fiddle (rabab), and a bououghanim, the group's clown who plays a double clarinet.
Berber village music in the Atlas Mountains
Village music is performed as a community. Men and women of an entire town will assemble on festive occasions to dance and sing together. Women also sing privately in their homes when weaving, cooking, and cleaning.
The best-known dances are ahouache, in the western High Atlas Mountains and the ahidus, performed by Chleuh Berbers in the eastern High Atlas Mountains. In these performances, flute (nai) and drums (bendirs) are the only instruments used.
Rwais: professional musical troupes of the Chleuh Berber people
The Chleuh Berbers have professional musicians known as rwais who perform in groups with various vocalists and instruments like lutes, rababs, and cymbals. The leader (rayes) directs the group's music and dancing.
These performances start with a rabab astara, which serves as the basis for the melody. Sung poetry, (amarg) comes next, followed by the ammussu, a danced overture; the tammust, an upbeat song; the aberdag (a dance); and finally, the rhythmically quick tabbayt.
The order is sometimes presented differently, but the astara always comes first, and the tabbayt is always the grand finale.
Music is an important part of daily life in Morocco
Moroccans' daily lives are poetically depicted through Berber music. Music is emphasized constantly in this culture to express ideas and emotions that are difficult to describe with words.
Famous Berber singers and music artists in Morocco
Bahija d Omar, Aicha Tachinwite, B'net Marrakech, Hassan Arsmouk, and Bnat Oudaden are well-known Berber artists who are well-liked throughout Morocco, whose music has infused daily life, and who play at local festivals. They hail from different regions of the Souss.
Berber music is a reflection of the depths of human memory. The strong women of B'net Marrakech effortlessly captivate modern European and American audiences in the same way that the Master Musicians of Jajouka did 40 years ago when they captured the attention of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones.
Other notable musicians and recording artists who have spent time in Morocco
The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin recorded albums in Morocco using native Berber musicians, and the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók traveled there to record in the field.
Moroccan bands did not, however, travel to Europe to perform on their own until the last ten years. B'net Marrakech, an all-female band, was one of Morocco's best-kept musical secrets until they mesmerized the WOMAD festival's nocturnal audience in 1998.
The legendary Jimi Hendrix has spent time in Essaouira, and was even inspired to write his hit song Castles Made of Sand about the port village.
More famous musicians who have spent time in Morocco include: Bob Marley, timothy Leary, Maria Callas, the Living Theatre, Paul Simon, Ira Cohen, Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, and of course, Cat Stevens.
Conclusion
Music is an important part of Moroccan and Berber culture. It stirs and conveys emotions, tells stories, and communicates history and tradition. Music is also a way to connect with the divine, and is often used in religious ceremonies and rituals. Moroccan and Berber music is unique and beautiful, and has the power to bring people together.
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