Sacred song aljamiado español of al andalus tradition, Sephardic, and profane of Sephardic tradition
PURPOSE
Learn about the Sephardic poetic and musical world through the singing tradition of the Judeo-Spanish Romances, in comparison with the tradition of the Cantigas de Santa Maria.
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
• Work on sacred and profane repertoires in Haketia, Ladino, Hebrew, Arabic and Galician-Portuguese for the Cantigas de Santa Maria.
• Work on the phonetic.
• Vocal preparation work depending on the addressed repertoire.
• Work on modes and melisma.
• Learning rhythms with percussion: singing and accompanying.
• Work and approach to ornamentation adapted to each song.
• Listening and comparative analysis of songs from sound samples.
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION
- Open to readers and non-readers of partitions, beginners or experienced singers
- If possible, come with a percussion (frame drum like Bendir, Daf, Tambourine, Darbouka)
- Instrumentalists are welcome, especially to interpret the instrumental passages of the repertoires being addressed. Learning takes place orally. However the corresponding scores and arrangements edited by Françoise Atlan will be distributed especially for the Cantigas.
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BIOGRAPHY
The Moroccan Soprano Samira Kadiri, The crystalline Voice of the Mediterranean Basin
Samira Kadiri is not only a glamorous Moroccan and Arab Soprano; she is, most
importantly, a devoted artistic ambassador across the different cultures of the
Mediterranean Basin. Being fascinated by the traditional musical repertoire of the Medieval Era and Renaissance in the Iberian Peninsula, Kadiri has embarked on a long term research in Arabo–Andalusian, Christiano–Andalusian and Ladino
musical heritage, a vital aspect of a rich civilization which lasted for many
centuries.
An Archeological Mission
The soprano Kadiri’s mission consists in her continuous endeavor to transmit the
tradition of the Andalusian chants in the Mediterranean Basin to contemporary and future generations in an archeological journey through history and geography. She builds her artistic and musical approach on Medieval scripts and miniatures found in different libraries and museums in a number of countries.
Samira Kadiri advocates reconsidering Andalusian heritage through academic
research so as to highlight the dark spots in Spain’s Arabo–Islamic history. In this
respect, she believes that ‘’the Mediterranean traditional chants were basically the fruit of our ancestors ‘creativity and imagination. Accordingly, we, as descendants, have the right to claim we are the lawful inheritors of this rich musical and lyrical tradition in spite of the existence of other chants which interacted with the Iberian Andalusian music such as poems of the Cantiga, the Troubadour or the Sephardim.
Sufi Perspectives
Raised in a purely Sufi atmosphere being a member of ‘’ Zawiya El Kadiriya
Cherkawiya’’, The soprano Samira Kadiri was brought up in accordance with
spiritual and moral principles. She would attend Sufi congregations to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday and other festivities. Besides, she studied Quran recitation or Tajweed. Thus, her memory is full of Sufi traditions which noticeably affects her musical and lyrical Repertoire.
Concerning her interaction with the Andalusian culture, the soprano’s presence in the city of Tetouan, with all its authentic architectural and cultural specificities, has helped her proceed in her investigation of the Andalusian heritage in Morocco. In this regard, the Moroccan Soprano says ‘’ I have taken my experience to broader perspectives of the Andalusian Tradition in the Mediterranean context through performing Sufi poems written in Aljamiado (Spanish in Arabic script) namely in the artistic project of “From Alpujarras to Arafat”, poems of Ibn Arabi, Rabia Aladawiyya and Cheikh Al Harrak, in addition to singing in ancient forgotten languages: Galleco Portugase, Ladiano, Hakeytia and Syriac’’.
Lyrical Arabic
Kadiri is an operatic voice that guides those who seek beauty in both words and
music. She believes Arabic is a deep and charming language that can be expressed in academic models. She was the first Arab Soprano, together with the distinguished composer Mostafa Aicha, to approach Arabic poetry so as to attune it to be performed in different international musical styles. She often switches
between Mozarabic, Ladino and Arabic being the first Arabic Opera Singer.
From Authentication to Experimentalism
After her successful experience with ‘’ Arabesc’’ in her distinguished album
entitled ‘’ Andalusian Chants from one Shore to Another’’, which basically refers
to the Medieval Iberian Andalusian music, the Moroccan Soprano keeps her
archeological mission of seeking new perspectives for Moroccan, and Arabic,
music. Accordingly, her new musical project ‘’Mazij’’ is the fruit of a long process
of hard work and perseverance in an artistic journey. She has developed her own
style of performing the Medieval repertoire of the Mediterranean Basin. In this
regard, she borrows lyrical and operatic techniques such as Flaminco, Fado and
Jazz, without ignoring the oriental musical rhythms and traditions. It is a process of fusion which can make you travel both in time and space across the different
shores of the Mediterranean.
Prizes
Thanks to her academic efforts to approach the Mediterranean musical and lyrical repertoire along with her distinguished performance dealing with the Arabic language and highlighting the ancient forgotten languages using her operatic voice, Samira Kadiri received many Arab and International Prizes:
2013
The Golden Badge (Seau de Marguerite de Bourgogne) by The French Prefecture
of Bourgogne.
‘’Artist of the Year 2013 Award’’ by The National Radio and Television
Company (SNRT)
‘’Woman of the Year’’ by the Tetouan Asmir Association in Tetouan, Morocco
2012
‘’The Golden Medal of Merit’’ by the National Council of Music in Rabat,
Morocco in cooperation with the UNESCO
‘’ International Ambassador for Culture’’ by Abdelmalik Essadi University in
Tetouan, Morocco
2011
‘’ The Grand Prize’’ and ‘’ Ambassador at Large’’ by Naji Nouman Organization
for Free Culture.
‘’ Almuhajir International Award for Thought, Literature and Arts’’ by the
Almuhajir International Organization for Culture in Melbourne, Australia
2010
‘’ Silver Medal’’ by the French Academy of Arts, Science and Literature in Paris.
2009
‘’Best Song’’ for her performing Morenica in the Album of ‘’ Andalusian Chants from one Shore to the other’’
Chosen by Radio Classica among four operatic voices for her distinguished Arabic lyrical poems. Her contribution was entitled ‘’ Senda de la Vida’’
2008
‘’ Alfarabi Prize for Traditional Music’’ by the National Council of Music in Rabat, Morocco.
2007
‘’ Creative Woman of 2007’’ by the European Union for the Support of Creative Women, Spain for the Soprano’s efforts as a scholar and as an artist.