Perfomance 4 december 2022
Sanaa Marahati & Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra
Poetic malhoun from Morocco
Sanaa Marahati (1984) is one of the rare interpreters of the classic malhoun style from Morocco. She brings a concert in this style together with the Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest. Malhoun has deep historical roots and plenty of room for vocal and instrumental improvisations. On stage, an interplay arises between the melodic classical maqam structure from the Andalusian tradition and the rhythmic variations that make the music a powerful whole. The 18th century poetic song blows over you like a warm wind.
Marahati is classically trained and devoted her musical life to the malhoun. This style is characterized by 18th-century folk poetry, in narratives (‘qasida’) in the Moroccan Arabic language. Everyday life blossoms in these stories about love, intrigue and nature. Malhoun is often accompanied by a classical ensemble.
Magic in improvisations
The Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest specializes in a very diverse Maghrebi-oriented repertoire. Musical director Abderrahim Semlali (1966) grew up in the historic center of Fes, where his parents passed on the stories in malhoun style. As a child he let himself be carried away by those stories and this is how his love for music was born. Since Sanaa Marahati's early breakthrough, Semlali has guided her several times. The two now feel very close to each other and magic arises when they cross paths during improvisations.
Performers:
Sanaa Marahati - singer
Haytham Safia - ud
Daniël van Huffelen - double bass
Mohammed Al Mokhlis - violin
Jaafar Lougmani - violin
Abderrahim Semlali - violin
Marianne Noordink - Ney & Flute
Dwight Breinburg - percussion
Ahmed Khaili - percussion
Youssef Chair - percussion
Ahmed El Maai - qanoum & siunger