Mike's Oud Forums

Andalusi nubah

danieletarab - 12-23-2014 at 02:23 PM

Hi folks!
I am trying to understand what Andalusi music and Andalusi Nubah exactly are. I red the article on Wikipedia but I still have some doubts. Do you know some internet resource or books that explain what's the structure of a nubah? Can you also suggest some audio or video links? Is there any istrumental andalusi music?

Jody Stecher - 12-23-2014 at 02:57 PM

Andalus music is written about mostly in French, perhaps more than in Arabic. It is actually several musics, most of which have a connection to Spain before the sixteenth century, and all of which have elements of various musics of the western part of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and some of Libya). The most reliable source of information I have found is liner notes of old LPs, and then of CDs. Some of the regional names are Ala, Gharnati, Sanâa, and Malouf. Yes there is instrumental andalus music. The music is generally performed as a suite with instrumental and vocal music both entwined and alternating and with the musical pieces set in various rhythms in an order determined by tradition. The terminology and sequence of pieces differs according to the tradition and the traditions differ according to Geography. There are many many hours of Andalus music on youtube. I like the music of all the schools but especially enjoy the somewhat rough hewn and exuberant music of the Malouf of Constantine. Old LPs of of Andualus music may be downloaded as digital files (at no cost) here:
http://oriental-traditional-music.blogspot.com

bulerias1981 - 12-26-2014 at 10:04 PM

Wow this site is so rich, incredible, thanks Jody!

danieletarab - 12-27-2014 at 05:12 PM

Thank you very much indeed!!

Jody Stecher - 12-27-2014 at 06:26 PM

You're welcome. try these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2sYWnFI2QY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RPzrdgJqz8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiwGc8dicEg

here are hours of good Noubas from Algiers (Sanâa style)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHyoyTkD_3YkwvZj68E3obA/videos

Jody Stecher - 12-28-2014 at 01:20 PM

There is also the Gharnati ("of Granada") music of Tlemcen and also on the Moroccan side of the Algeria/Morocco border. Here is some composed instrumental music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3zolLxAY4k

hussamd - 12-29-2014 at 05:24 AM

I would have spelled it "Noobah". I was scratching my head at what Andalusi "Barking" was :D Arabic is a tricky language. One missed vowel and the meaning changes wildly.

Jody Stecher - 12-29-2014 at 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by hussamd  
I would have spelled it "Noobah". I was scratching my head at what Andalusi "Barking" was :D Arabic is a tricky language. One missed vowel and the meaning changes wildly.


Nauba, Nouba, Naubat, Noubas, I have seen all of these spellings.

In 1929 Louis Buñuel and Salvador Dali made a (horrible) film called Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog). Nothing to do with this music but I couldn't help remembering about it.

Here's a beautiful short clip of Moroccan Andalus music. Guaranteed free of barking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_0nGT0XeRI

hussamd - 12-29-2014 at 05:16 PM

:applause: