Moorish music and poetry show us to what extent the value of love was necessary and useful in order for all Arab-Andalusian culture to develop and thrive. These forms of music and songs were best expressed in the Maghreb through traditional culture, the finest example of which is the wedding ceremony or Moorish night being displayed in this program.

In Arabic, Al-Maqam is a fragment or musical scale in which the magical music of the East is performed with “tarab,” a concept which alludes to the sensations or feelings that music awakens in the soul. During the era of Al-Andalus, this art was linked to cosmic processes and human moods, with a complex, delicate form of music nourished by the Maghrebi, Spanish and Near Eastern cultures having developed as a result. Likewise, Persian refinement, as shown by Ziryab, Arab sobriety and the Berber joviality merged with Spanish-Visigothic and Jewish heritage to create a true form of indigenous art in the Caliphate and Taifa kingdoms.

The group Al-Maqam was created in late 2000 as a result of the recording project financed by Spain’s Ministry of Social Affairs and the Autonomous Regional Government of Andalusia to promote peaceful co-existence and interculturality. It was conceived with the basic goals of forming a group of professional musicians who make up some of the best orchestras and chamber ensembles on the Andalusian music scene. Among its objectives is to develop new musical programs, traditional repertoires and artistic innovations, thus committing to a new concept of Arab music in general with a Moorish theme, while promoting their integration into the working world and seeking to attract new audiences.

Fathi Ben Yakoub (violin)

Aziz Samsaoui (kanun)

Youssef el Houssaini (vocals, oud)

He studied Arabic Oud and Historical String Instruments at the Conservatory in Tetouan. Interested in ancient music, he has studied in Tangier and Rabat. He was a member of the Youth Orchestra of the Andalusi Music Conservatory in Tetouan, with which he has given recitals at music festivals. Despite his young age, he has carried out research work on Arabic-Moorish and Middle Eastern songs, specializing in the ancient style known as the “moaxaja,” based on the classical Arabic songs and music from Al-Al-Andalus. He belongs to a family rooted in Al-Andalus music, especially Sufi music, zawia al-harrakia. His great-grandfather was the founder of the first Sufi brotherhood in Morocco, more specifically in Tetouan, which still continues to hold weekly activities today, bringing members together to sing, play and recite mystical poems.

Educated at the Conservatory of Andalusi Music, he studied classical and Moorish violin under the direction of Telemsani and Mers, and perfected his training under masters like Dersa. He formed part of the Youth Orchestra of the Conservatory of Classical Music of Tetouan with which he has given recitals at festivals in Morocco and abroad. He was awarded the Diploma of Honor in the Royal Competition for Young National Performers. His musical career has been enriched by collaborations and recordings within different groups in a wide range of musical styles. Most notable among these are: Hilal y Chabab, and Segundo Falcón (flamenco), Basidou (ethnic), Margoba (folk) and Al-Maqam (Al-Andalus music). He has taken part in many festivals, including Cuenca’s Ancient Music Festival and the Tres Culturas Festival in Murcia. He has also given conferences and participated in seminars at the University of Rabat (Morocco).

A multi-instrumentalist who was essentially self-taught, Samsaoui trained at the Conservatory of Andalusi Music in Tetouan. He studied the Arabic oud and violin under the direction of Telemsani, perfecting his skills with maestros Mezuak and Amin Al-Akrami, as well as others. He was a member of the Youth Orchestra of the Conservatory of Andalusi Music of Tetouan. He was assigned as a professor of “Andalusi Music” for three years at the I.F.P. His interest in ancient, ethnic and traditional style music has led him to progress in an endless musical career playing different string instruments (Arabic oud, lute, rebab, viola, psaltery and kanun). His career in performance has been enriched by collaborating and recording with groups of different musical styles, including Cinco Siglos, Alía Música, Capella de Ministrers, Estampie, the Dufay Collective, Michel Nyman & Orq Che, the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra, Enrique Morente, Arcángel, Al Maqam, Samira Kadiri, the Andalusi Ensemble of Tetouan and Al Andaluz Project, as well as others. He has made recordings for TVE1, Canal Sur and RNE, as well as several recordings for albums.

Kouraichi began his musical career playing the oud and violin. He later discovered another of his hobbies in percussion instruments, improving his studies with Professor Abdelah Afailal at a professional training center, then learning the first percussion techniques. Further on, he had the opportunity to work with various orchestras, learning from the masters and the best percussionists in Morocco. He was part of the Youth Orchestra at Tetouan’s Conservatory of Classical Music, with which he has given recitals at festivals in Morocco and abroad. His career as a performer has been enriched by collaborating and recording with different groups in various musical styles. Most notable among these are: Segundo Falcón (flamenco), Basidou (ethnic), Margoba (folk) or Al-Maqam (Andalusi). He has taken part in many festivals, including Cuenca’s Ancient Music Festival and the Tres Culturas Festival in Murcia.