moroccan raï : modern music
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Moroccan Raï : Modern music. Nathan Ricks April 3, 2008 Dr. Fenn Moroccan Music. What is Raï Music?. Raï is most commonly pronounced “rye” or “rah-AY”. The term “ raï “ is translated to mean “opinion” in Algerian Arabic. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
MOROCCAN RAÏ:MODERN MUSIC
Nathan Ricks April 3, 2008
Dr. FennMoroccan Music
What is Raï Music? Raï is most commonly pronounced “rye” or
“rah-AY”. The term “raï “ is translated to mean
“opinion” in Algerian Arabic. Now this type of music is usually described
as pop music sung in the Arabic, or even French, language with a trace of World Beat influence.
It originally was just a combination of more popular music and traditional Bedouin desert Music.
Where is Raï Music? Raï originated in Oran, Algeria from the
Bedouin shepherds
Raï started in the in the 1930’s in Algeria
It spread across North Africa as a way to modernize music of the Arabian culture.
It is now spread all across the world with heavier focuses in the communities that can understand the lyrics, generally Arabic ones.
History of Raï:Background
In 1509 Oran, Algeria was invaded and captured by the Spanish
The Spanish troops kept women there to entertain the troops Creating a reputation for hedonism for Oran
In the early 20th century the city was divided into Jewish, French, Spanish, and Arab quarters.
Each having its own musical preference.
History cont.:Developement
Younger individuals had wished to modernize the music of their culture by cobining it with other things, and raï was the result .
However, many people didn’t agree with it, so raï music was seen as rebellious. Just like punk rock was in the 1970’s and rap is today.
Raï musicians were seen as indecent representations of society for a long time.
History cont.:Spread
It wasn’t until after the election of president Chadhli Benjedid in 1979 that raï was able to flourish, and successfully spread across North Africa and beyond due to the lessened moral hold on the Algerian community.
Prior to this raï had been opposed by the Algerian Government because of its sexually and culturally risqué topics, such as alcohol and consumerism, but president Chadhli Benjedid had a different view of it. He lossened moral and economic holds that prevented free expression, which is what raï is.
Song TranslationsJIBUHALU("BRING HIM TO HER")
SA'IDA BA'IDA("SA'IDA IS FAR AWAY")
Yabki wa ynuh, khayaf la az-zarga la truh
He cries and weeps; he's afraid that the brunette will leave (him)
Jibuhalu ya bni 'ammu jibuhalu Bring him to her, cousins (lit:
"children of my paternal uncle"), bring him to her
Jibuhalu kuntra 'alli ysaluhalu Bring him to her against those who
interferehttp://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/jibuhalu.au
Sa'ida ba'ida wa al-mashina ghalya wa ya
Saïda is far away and the train is expensive
Tahwas al-ghaba rgada al-khallaj Walking in the woods and sleeping
in the bushes
http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/Saida2.au
More TranslationsDABLAT GALBI("RUIN OF MY HEART")
Wa skantili al-galb ki al-'aahsh farsha, wa, ki al-'aeshsh farsha, wah
You stayed in my heart like a bird's nest in a tree, yeah, like a bird's nest in a tree
Ya kalmtak jarhatni ya al-khudmi la wa al-khudmi la, wah
Oh, your words wounded me, not the knife, yeah, not the knife
Wa yah dablat galbi wa yah dablat 'umri Oh, ruin of my heart, oh yeah, ruin of my
life
Ya ma tashtani, wa yah dablat 'umriYeah, don't hurt [crush] me, oh yeah, ruin of
my heart
http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/dablatgalbi.au
Instruments Traditional:
gasba (reed flute) derbouka (Maghrebi drums) Among others
More modern instruments: Violin Accordion Trumpets Electric guitar Synthesizers Drum machines Among others
Raï Terms Singers of more modern raï
music call themselves: Cheb/Chab (young man) Chabas (young woman)
Those of the more tradition style of raï, and generally older, call themselves: Shikh/Cheikh-male term Shikha/Cheikha- female term
Singers sometimes use these terms at the beginning of their names as a symbol of the raï music that they sing.
Types of Raï Traditional raï Pop-raï
The most popular and largest style of raï
Rock-raï Raï Retro Etc, etc
Artists Some more modern examples would be
music by: Cheb Mami Cheb Khaled Cheb Sahraoui Cheb Hasni Chaba Aicha Chaba Fadela
Artist can be found across North Africa, but mostly in Algeria.
Artist cont. An English sung example
of raï: “Brand New Day”,
Sting(1999) He utilized the vocal
styling of Cheb Mami on this album, and Mami's efforts could be easily noticed in the song "Desert Rose".
Bibliography Biddle , Ian, and Vanessa Knights. Music, National
Identity and the Politics of Location. Bodmin, Cornwall, Great Britain: Ashgate Oublishing Limited, 2007.
Romer, Megan. "Rai Music 101." About.com (2008) <http://worldmusic.about.com/od/venues/p/RaiMusic.htm>
"Rai Music History." Wikipedia <http://www.worlddiscoveries.net/African%2006/Rai%20Music%20History.htm>.
"Rai Music Samples." Center for Middle Eastern Studies, The University of Texas at Austin <http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/music.html>.