Posts Tagged ‘Fes Festival Tour’

Fes Festival Sacred Music 21st Edition Schedule and Program 2015

Saturday, March 7th, 2015
Fes Festival Program 2015

Fes Festival Program 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FES FESTIVAL OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC 21st EDITION PROGRAM

From 22-30 May 2015, the ancient city of Fes will host the 21st edition of its world famous Sacred Music Festival. This Fes Festival Program offers a full schedule of magnificent musical performances at the Bab Makina, the Bab Boujloud Gate and the Batha Garden & Museum.   

 

Friday 22 May

Bab Makina – 21h00

Opening night

Fes: in search of Africa

From desert wastes to the treasures of ancient palaces, this great musical tale evokes the spirit of African heritage. It takes its inspiration from The History & Description of Africa written by Hassan Al Wazzan (c 1490-1550, known as Leo Africanus or Yuhanna Al Assad in Arabic), as well as highlighting the history of the Tijani Sufi brotherhood.  Fes and its medina is the link between Andalusia and Africa.

The performance is a tribute to these great mystical travelers who forged historic links between Morocco and the rest of Africa.

Artists include:

Driss al Maloumi – oud – Morocco

Ballaké Sissoko and Kora Ensemble  – Mali

Cape Philharmonic Youth String Quintet – South Africa

Musicians of the Nile –  Egypt

Masks of the Moon – Burkina Faso

Doudou N’Diaye Rose Children & the Simb Lion dance – Senegal

Nouhaila Al Kalaa – Fes, Morocco

Coumbane Mint Amartichitt – griot from Mauritania

Chérifa – Tamazight song from the Middle Atlas – Morocco  

Malick Sow, Tijani master from Tivouane – Senegal

Babani Koné , Mandinka song –  Mali

Moriba Koita, Ngon – Mali

Tamango, dance – USA, French Guyana

Mohammed Bajjedoub –  Tijani song  – Morocco

Direction & Production: Alain Weber

Lighting: Christophe Olivier, assisted by Gaël Boucault

Mapping: Spectaculaires

 

 

Saturday 23 May

Batha Museum – 16h30

Payiz Ensemble  – Persian Kurdish Tradition – Iraq

The skin on the lute trembles like living flesh.   Jalal Al Din Rumi

The Kurdish soul lies between Persian heritage and Sufi inspiration, in the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan, a land now in crisis. Here its legendary sacred poetry is revived.

 

Bab Makina – 21h00

First part:

The Brittany Bagad Cap Caval Band and the Lamkartass Ensemble from Tissa  – France & Morocco

An encounter between one of the most famous bagpipe bands of Brittany and the folk music of Tissa, in the foothills of Morocco’s Rif mountains.

Second part:

Saber Rebaï – Tunisia

With his refined, attractive voice, Saber Rebaï is one of the most popular singers of the Maghreb. Inspired in his youth by the great performers Mohammad Abd El Wahab, Abd El Kader El Asaly, Wadih Al Safi and Abd El Halim Hafez, Rebaï has become one of the great romantic singers of our time.

 

Sunday 24 May

Batha Museum – 16h30

Julie Fowlis – Scotland

Singer Julie Fowlis embodies all the beauty and fragility of Scottish Celtic tradition.

 

Bab Makina – 21h00

African Spirit

In the forest, branches may quarrel but their roots are entwined.    Peul proverb

This year the Festival is dedicated to Africa. This concert presents Africa in its quest for identity through the music of Oumou Sangare, symbol of freedom for African women, and through the liberating spirit of African reggae.                                           

Oumou Sangare  The amazing Malian diva Oumou Sangare represents African womanhood. Recognised by UNESCO and the FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN) for her social work, Sangare is one of the brightest stars of Mali in the Wassoullou tradition south of the Niger River.

Tiken Jah Fakoly – Ivory Coast   Master of African Reggae along with Alpha Blondy and the late Lucky Dube, Tiken Jah Fakoly is at the height of his career. He sings of the fundamental values of Africa.

 

Monday 25 May

Batha Museum – 4.30pm

Ballaké Sissoko (kora) and Debashish  Battacharya (Indian slide guitar) – Mali & India

Two string instruments and two musical masters together create melodic inspiration for a musical journey from the banks of the Ganges to the Niger River.

 

Night in the Medina I

Dar Adiyel – 20h00

Eduardo Ramos – Portugal

Specialising in 13th century Arab and Sephardic music, Eduardo Ramos is one of the most well-known artists in Iberian medieval music. With a background in traditional Portuguese music and moving on through rock and Afro-jazz, Ramos gradually came to concentrate on his passion for the musical repertoire of the Sephardic Jews of Portugal and Spain. He plays the oud which allows him to integrate Arab music, too.
Sidi Mohamed Ben Youssef Cultural Complex – 20h00 and 22h30

Masks of the Moon – Bwaba Ritual – Burkina Faso

This extraordinary magical ritual lies at the heart of the griot village of Baraba.

 

Batha Museum – 21h00

Marassa Premiere  – USA, Cuba & France

Omar Sosa, piano, percussion

Tamango, dance

Rodrigo, percussion

Jean de Boysson, visuals

A musical, choreographic and multimedia creation by the famous Cuban pianist Omar Sosa, accompanied by urban tap virtuoso Tamango and Jean de Boysson’s visual creations.

 

Dar Adiyel – 22h30

The Royal Art of the Kora

Ballaké Sissoko invites more than a dozen musicians to take part in this sumptuous performance featuring the kora, the royal harp of the Mandinka empire.

 

Tuesday 26 May

Batha Museum – 16h30

Roberto Fonseca and Fatoumata Diawara – Cuba & Mali

An encounter between a young griot and Cuban music, both inherited from Africa.

 

Night in the Medina II

Dar Adiyel – 20h00

Li Daiguo, Pipa, Cello and Beatbox – China

Young Chinese musician Li Daiguo celebrates nature in his own way :  contemplative and inventive, as well as contemporary.

 

Sidi Mohamed Ben Youssef Cultural Complex  – 20h00 and 22h30

Premiere

Wajd

Sonia Mbarek – Tunisia

The famous Tunisian singer presents a special creation for the Festival featuring Sufi poetry.

 

Batha Museum– 21h30

Diego Al Cigala – Spain

With guest singer Benjamin Bouzaglou

Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar was born in Madrid into a family of performers. He is now a major voice of Flamenco.

 

 Dar Adiyel 22h30

The Sacred World of Mugham – Azerbaijan

Arzu Alieva, voice

Elchan Mansurov, kamancheh (string instrument)

Malik Mansuro, tar (long-necked string instrument)

Shirzaa Fazalieve, balaban (double-reed wind instrument)

Mugham expressed the varied emotions of exaltation and is found in the great poetic traditions of the Caucasus and Iran. This poetry sings of mountains and palaces, of the desire to be loved, the wretchedness of separation or the inconstancy of a lover, the beauty of the land and the splendour of God.
Wednesday 27 May

Night in the Medina III

Dar Adiyel – 20h00 and 22h30

Sirat Al-Hilali

The epic Hilal story from the Poets of Upper Egypt

Ramadan Hassan and the Musicians of the Nile

These men are very brave and very rich. They are part of the 6000-strong cavalry and are well-armed.

From The History and Description of Africa by Leo Africanus

The Hilal epic is evoked by Hassan Al Wazzan (Leo the African) and is still sung by a few poets in Upper Egypt. It tells of the invasion of the Maghreb during the 10th century by the Beni Hilal and Beni Soleim tribes from the Arab Peninsula. The great emblematic figure of this epic is Abou Zeid Al-Hilali, a warrior and poet (chaer) who, according to the story, was ‘as black as a raven’.

 

Sidi Mohamed Ben Youssef Cultural Complex – 20h00 and 22h30

Bhagavata Mela Ritual and Sacred Theatre – from Melattur village in Tamil Nadu  – India

Words and sense are the body of poetry; rasa [taste] is its essence.

Bharata, René Daumal, Gallimard

This sacred theatre group is making its first trip beyond the Hindu Temple of Melattur. India was home to some of the first ritual theatre, and this popular form of entertainment is inherited from ancient Sanskrit theatre. It celebrates the God Vishnu and his incarnation Krishna, with more than twenty artists.
Batha Museum – 21h30

Paolo Fresu and A Filetta  – Sardinia & Corsica

The great masters of Corsican polyphonic voices meet Sardinian trumpet player Paolo Fresu for a Mediterranean musical encounter of deep spirituality.

 

Thursday, May 28th

Medina Morning – 10h00

Music and tea in private riads

Flamenco voices of Fes

 

Batha Museum – 16h30

Nabil Benabdeljalil and the Zakharif Ensemble – Morocco

The Zakharif Ensemble is composed of various artists performing with the young Moroccan composer and musicologist Nabil Benabdeljalil. Founded on principles both aesthetic and technical, the group’s diversity is at the heart of their creativity. Of various backgrounds and musical training, they make use of improvisation and variation to recreate ancient Arab music, including the Nahda Egyptian tradition of the long songs of Oum Kalsum.
Bab Makina – 21h00

The Temptations – USA

with Dennis Edwards

Legends of Rhythm & Blues

This acclaimed Motown group reinvents its Rhythm & Blues origin to inspire a whole new generation of musicians around the globe. The impact of soul, blues and gospel has led to African music having a significant influence on all genres of popular music, from raï to rock.

 

Friday 29 May

Medina Morning – 10h00

Music and tea in private riads

Beihdja Rahal  – Algeria

The Andalusian tradition of Algeria

 

 Batha Museum  – 16h30

Amen en la voz del Hombre –

Saeta sacred song

from an original idea by  Andres Marin

Voices:

Jesus Mendez

Segundo Falcon

Jesus de la Mena

Classical musicians:

Javier Trigos, clarinet

Miguel Maceda, bassoon

Angel Sanchez, oboe

Chamber music with oboe, clarinet, bassoon and three exceptional voices to sing the Saeta of Seville: mystical songs of praise and invocations to God and the Virgin that express deep spiritual feelings.

Through Flamenco romances, peteneras and seguiriyas, the soul of Andalusia and the Sevillian processions are brought to life.

 

Bab Makina – 21h00

Andalusia

Arabo- Andalous Orchestra of Fes, directed by Mohammed Briouel

with

Beihdja Rahal (Algeria), Sonia Mbarek (Tunisia), Benjamin Bouzaglou, Sanaa Maharati, Nabile Maan, Marouane Haji (all of Morocco)

In the capable hands of master Mohamed Briouel, Andalous music shines forth in the great traditions of the Maghreb and Lebanon.

 

 

Saturday 30 May

Medina Morning – 10h00

Music and tea in private riads

Badre Rami – Syria

The  Muwashshah tradition of Aleppo

 

Batha Museum – 16h30

Faada Freddy – Senegal

Gospel revisited by African Rap singer Abdoul Fatah Seck

Body percussion, heartbeats and finger clicks enliven this very African and innovative soul music.
Bab  Makina – 21h00

Hussain Al Jasmi – United Arab Emirates

Hussain Al Jasmi has one of the most beautiful voices of the Arab peninsula. He presents a secular and religious repertoire full of the emotion and feeling that has made him so popular in the Maghreb.

For more information about the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music or a Fes Tour

For more information about the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

The Fes Sacred Music Festival, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Saturday, March 7th, 2015
Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2015

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From 22-30 May 2015, the ancient city of Fes will host the 21st edition of its world famous Sacred Music Festival. The origins of Fes lie in the 8th century by Idris I, who is known for bringing the religion of Islam from Arabia in the East, to Morocco. Fes’ spiritual credentials were boosted by the establishment of the al-Qarawiyyin (or al-Karaouine) University, mosque and madrasa (religious school). It became one of the spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world and remains today the longest-standing university in the world. Fes‘ role as the spiritual hub of Morocco is underscored by its historical role as the seat of Islamic learning in the Kingdom and an openness towards other cultures and religions. These factors make it the perfect location for two of Morocco’s most well-known festivals: the Fes Festival of Sufi Culture (18-25 April 2015) and the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (22-30 May 2015). (Note: This year’s Sacred Music Festival is being held a few weeks early to avoid a clash with the Holy month of Ramadan. It is normally held in June).

This year’s 21st edition of the Sacred Music Festival has as its theme ‘Fes: An African Reflection.’ The aim is to connect Fes to its broader African and Islamic spiritual heritage. In addition to the opportunity to see Sufi musicians and practioners from across the Islamic world, the Festival will musicians and artists of other spiritual traditions in a range of impressive indoor and outdoor venues. The program boasts a selection of artists which is much broader than the title would suggest – audiences will be treated to Indian, Persian, Scottish and American artists as well as a great number of North and West African musical and spiritual performances.

A particular highlight will be the opening night (Friday 22 May), an event entitled “Fes in search of Africa”, which will feature some world class Moroccan and West African musicians including Driss al Maloumi (Oud), Ballaké Sissoko (Kora) and Chérifa (Tamazight song from Morocco’s Middle Atlas region) as well as artists from South Africa, Egypt, Burkina Fasso, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, French Guyana and more.

Batha Gardens & Museum, Fes Festival

Batha Gardens & Museum, Fes Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon concerts are held in the garden of the Batha Museum. These include a tribute to the great Sufi master, Rumi , in the Persian Kurdish tradition by the Payiz Ensemble of Iraq on Saturday 23 May and the fabulous Julie Fowlis of Scotland, who sings haunting melodies in her native Scots Gaelic language on the Sunday. Monday will see an unusual and inspirational collaboration between Malian Ballaké Sissoko on kora and Debashish Battacharya on Indian slide guitar.

The larger evening concerts are held at Bab al Makina, an open-air parade ground near the Royal Palace. Saturday night will see a meeting between the bagpipes of Brittany, France and the folk music of Tissa, in Morocco’s northern Rif mountains. On Sunday, Malian diva Oumou Sangare and Tiken Jah Fakoly, master of African reggae from Ivory Coast will celebrate the festival’s African theme in their joint concert.

Fes Festival Sacred Music

Fes Festival Sacred Music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday night (25 May) sees the first of the Night in the Media events, with Eduardo Ramos of Portugal exploring the rich cultural tapestry of Arabic, Sephardic Jewish and Andalusian music across the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.

Fans of Cuban music are in for a double treat! On Monday evening Cuban pianist and musical innovator Omar Sosa returns once again to Morocco for the premier of Marassam with Tamango (urban tap dance, USA & French Guyana), Rodrigo (percussion, Cuba) and Jean de Boysson (visuals, France). The following afternoon’s concert features Roberto Fonseca and one of Mali’s latest musical exports to global stages, Fatoumata Diawara. The two are bound to create an explosive and colorful collaboration!

The concerts of Night in the Media II on Tuesday 26th at Dar Adiyel will feature artists from China and Azerbaijan, while elsewhere on the same evening, Tunisian singer Sonia Mbarek will present the premiere of her work based on Sufi poetry, Wajd. The Tuesday evening Batha Museum concert will explore the common roots of Andalusian music and Flamenco, featuring Benjamin Bouzaglou, star of the modern Arabo-Jewish Andalusian music scene.

Night in the Medina III on Wednesday night features the epic Hilal story from the Poets of Upper Egypt, as described by Leo Africanus, 16th century explorer of North Africa. His history is intimately connected to that of the city of Fes: he came to Fes from his native al Andalus (modern-day Spain) at the time of the Spanish Inquisition and expulsion of Muslims and Jews. He went on to study at the University of Al Karaouine before beginning an illustrious diplomatic and travelling career, during which he documented the geography of Africa. Other Wednesday night events feature artists from Tamil Nadu, India as well as Sardinian and Corsican representatives of Mediterranean traditions.

Thursday’s program features elements as diverse as flamenco, Moroccan Arabic musical traditions and the big attraction at Bab Makina – The Temptations with Dennis Edwards, presenting their own style of Rhythm and Blues to a whole new audience.

All of Friday’s events draw on North African and Spain’s Andalusian heritage, including music from Algeria and another opportunity to see flamenco traditions. The evening concert is a grand spectacle of Arabo-Andalusian tradition featuring many of the Festival’s North African artists.

Saturday’s schedule showcases Syrian Muwashshah traditions of Arabic poetry and music; gospel with an African touch, and the final concert with Hussain Al Jasmi of the United Arab Emirates.

As the diverse program suggests, the Fes Sacred Music Festival takes a very broad and inclusive view of the sacred and of the importance of indigenous and non-tangible elements of global heritage. There is surely something to satisfy many musical and artistic interests, but also plenty of opportunity to discover lesser-known musicians and artistic genres.

On a practical note, Fes gets very busy during this Festival. Visitors are advised to book accommodation early. Tickets are not yet available online but will be soon and can be purchased for individual events or for the Festival as a whole. Seating is not allocated, so arrive at venues early to avoid disappointment. Some venues are more comfortable than others and some are outside, so dress appropriately and bring something to sit on! There is no afternoon concert on the Wednesday. This is a great time to relax in the Fes medina or take an excursion out of town to nearby Meknes or Volubilis.

Fes is an impressive city in any season, but with the fabulous line up for 2015, a trip to the 21st Fes Sacred Music Festival is an opportunity not to be missed!

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music or a Fes Tour

For more information about the Program for the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.  We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Fes Festival World Sacred Music 17th Edition June 2011 Program, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Fes Festival 2011

Travel Exploration is proud to present the final music and conference schedule for the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. The Fes Festival Of World Sacred Music’s 17th Edition will take place from June 3rd – 12th, 2011. The Fes Music Festival can be attended by taking a 13 Day/ 12 Night Morocco Tour with Music Host, Joel Davis which includes discovers of Morocco’s Imperial Cities, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music and the Sahara region. Discovering Fes and the Fes Festival can also be done on a private journey to Fes. This immense undertaking of a Fes Festival Program in the city of Fes, Morocco is once again spearheaded by Mr. Faouzi Skali. Mr. Faouzi Skali has a Doctor in anthropology, ethnology and religion sciences. Faouzi Skali was born in Fes Morocco in 1953.  Mr. Skali founded the international symposium A soul for the globalization – since 2001 – in parallel of the Festival of World Sacred Music in Fes. Those of us who know Mr. Faouzi Skali’s word and his commitment to peace and a greater Fes are pleased to have him back at the helm. The 17th Edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is going to be like none other. At a time when the Muslim world is looking for reform towards democracy and peace, Morocco once again leads with a commitment to these efforts linked to culture, arts and community. The mix of musicians from around the world at the 17th annual Fes Festival within the modernized, peaceful and progressive country of Morocco is surely to be at the threshold of the world’s eyes and an opportunity for world and spiritual music to once again bridge the gaps that exist among us.

Faouzi Skali, Director of Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music – 17th Edition 2011 (June 3rd – 12th, 2011)

Friday, June 3rd

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Creation

Opera ‘Majnun and Leila’ Armand Amar, art direction ‐ Leili Anvar, booklet (lyrics/script) With  the  Shanghai  Percussion  –  Japanese  Drums  –  Sarah  Nemtanu,  violin  soloist  with  the  London Symphony Orchestra ‐ Gregory Korneliu, cello ‐ Ibrahim Maalouf, trumpet ‐ Levon Minassian,  duduk  ‐  Seye  Mohamed,  ney  ‐  Zaim  Abdou,  oud  ‐  Guo  Gan,  erhu  ‐  Mara Dubrescu,  piano  ‐  Mathias  Duplessy,  guitar  ‐  Salah  Aguili,  Iranian  singing  ‐  Sandrine  Piau and Adele Carlier, classical singing – Epi, Mongolian throat singing ‐ Asif Ali Khan, qawwali singing  Armand Amar, a cinematic composer – from the prestigious “Amen” by Costa‐Gavras to the recent “Home” (a cult‐oriented ecological movie by Yann Arthus‐Bertrand) ‐ offers a musical and poetic journey of the great Eastern traditions, from Persia to the Arab world. The  universal  story  of  Majnun  and  Leila,  a  legend  carried  over  time  through  stories, novels,  poems,  films  and  songs  in  Arabic,  Kurdish,  Pashto,  Hindi,  Urdu  or  Bengali,celebrates absolute love and represents the idea of a true mystical quest.

Saturday June 4th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Elena Ledda and his quartet with polyphonic choir Su Cuncordu ‘E Su Rosario de Santu Lussurgiu ‐ Sardinia, Italy Cantendi A Deus. Surrounded  by  the  beautiful  voices  of  Sardinia,  Elena  Ledda  renews  the  sacred  songs  ofan  island  whose  pastoral  society  has  preserved  its  rich  oral  heritage,  a  heritage  that exudes the wild beauty of the ancient mountains and Mediterranean.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm

Maria Bethânia ‐ Brazil Romances and spiritual songs / Canticos, preces e suplicas. A native of Bahia, Maria Bethânia was the spokesperson of a youth movement involved in post‐dictatorship and feminism. Today, the adored grande dame of popular song – known as  Abelha‐rainha  (“Queen  Bee”)  –  plays  a  repertoire  of  homage  and  praise  to  the  Virginary, full of a sensual fervor related to Brazil’s multiculturalism.

Nawah Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Sunday June 5th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Nawah ‐ Morocco and Palestine Traditional Sephardic Jewish and Palestinian songs   Françoise Atlan, voice Moneim Adwan, voice and oud  Bijan Cheminani, zarb and daf . At  the  junction  of  the  three  monotheistic  traditions  of  medieval  Spain  and  a  musical tradition  evoking  exile,  lost  homelands  and  purified  love,  Françoise  Atlan  and  Moneim Adwan form a meeting between the musical history of the Maghreb and the Middle East.

Bab Al Makina ‐ 8.30 pm

Julia Boutros – Lebanon

The consciousness of a great voice. Following the path of the illustrious Feirouz to whom she is often compared, Julia Boutros  continues  with  intelligence  a  career  leading  her  to  be  respected  by  the  entire  Arab  world. Simple  in  her  interpretation,  serene  in  her  appearance,  Julia  Boutros  has  all  the attractions of a diva aware of the political realities surrounding her.

Monday June 6th

Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

The ‘Kinor David’ choir under the direction of Michael Abittan ‐ Casablanca, Morocco. The art of matrouz. This  year,  in  the  spirit  of  the  spiritual  dialogue  that  characterizes  this  festival,  the  Jewish  Arabic tradition – dear to the musical heritage of Morocco – evokes the land of Andalusia,  a  crucible  of  Muslim,  Hebrew  and  Christian  cultures,  where  Jewish  and  Arab  poetry  are  embroidered and entwined.

Night in the Medina I

Dar Mokri –  8 and 10 pm Jesús Corbacho – Andalusia‐ Spain Saetas, songs of praise

Dar Tazi – 8.30 pm Salah Aghili ‐ Iran The poetic art of Djalâl ad‐Dîn Rûmî. The  Persian  music  and  poetry  of  Djalâl  ad‐Dîn  Rûmî  opens  the  doors  of  perception,  lifting  our  imagination  into  the  heart  of  ancient  warriors  and  epic  songs,  before  descending  into  deep nostalgia and mystic sadness.

Batha Museum – 9.00 pm

Prem Sanyas, “The Light of Asia” ‐ North India A masterpiece of silent film directed by Franz Osten (1925) and set to music on stage by the ‘Divana Ensemble’ ‐ manghaniyars and langas musicians from Rajasthan.  Prem  Sanyas  evokes  the  early  years  of  Buddha,  also  known  as  Siddhartha  Gautama,  the long‐awaited son of King Suddhodana. After growing up in a closed and protected world  the  young  man  escapes  the  palace  and  discovers  another  aspect  of  human  existence: poverty,  disease  and  death.  The  film,  shot  in  Jaipur,  is  an  opportunity  to  discover  the  sumptuous lives and traditions of the rajahs of the time.

Dar Adiyel ‐ 9 and 10.30 pm

Alèmu Aga ‐ Ethiopia

Sacred song and lyre bèguèna Since the time of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon (1000 BC), there were 3000 years of independence experienced by the Kingdom of Axum, before it became Abyssinia and Ethiopia. These countries then converted to Christianity in the 4th century at the same  time as the Roman Empire. The  crystalline  notes  of  the  lyre  and  singing  recitals  of  Alemu  Aga  take  us  back  to  the  chants  of  King  David.  At  once  meditative  and  therapeutic,  these  songs  are  ancient  and deeply peaceful.

Dar Tazi – 11.00 pm Sheikh Taha ‐ Upper Egypt The Inshad sufiya of Luxor The  Munshiddin  of  Upper  Egypt  are  known  for  their  poetic  verve  and  stage  presence.  Very  popular,  they  are  accompanied  by  the  Takht  Ensemble  who  play  melodic  ancient tunes  inspired  by  old  songs  such  as  Oum  Kalthoum.  Their  Sufi  singing  ‐  inshad  Sufiya  ‐  is  bright and accessible to all.

Gundecha Brothers Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Tuesday June 7th
Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Gundecha Brothers ‐ North India

The sacred art of dhrupad. Dhrupad singing is the oldest classical music tradition alive in the Indian subcontinent. It is  rooted  in  the  recitation  of  the  Vedic  hymns.  Originally  sung  in  the  temples,  the  vocal  technique recreates the exaltation of the loving soul.

Dar Tazi – 11.00 pm Sheikh Taha – Upper Egypt Sufi Inshad of Luxor Night in the Medina II

Dar Mokri – 8.00 pm Mohamed Amin El Akrami and his orchestra ‐ Morocco Andalusian tradition of Tetouan. Mohamed  Amine  Akrami  carries  with  him  the  musical  heritage  of  Andalusian  Tetouan,  a  small town in the Rif Mountains often called “the Andalusian patio of Morocco”. The tune  contains  both  sophisticated  and  bitter  aspects  and  the  music  al‐âla  of  Tetouan  is  beautifully  enhanced  by  the  Mohamed  Amine  Akrami  Ensemble.  Mohamed  Amine Akrami  perfected  his  art  with  religious  songs  from  madih  to  samâ,  studying  under  great masters such as Mohamed Larbi Temsamani and Abdessadak Chekara.

Batha Museum – 8.00 pm Ensemble Barroco Asuncion Paraguay ‐ Latin America Alexander Chauffaud, musical direction

Jessica Bogado and Laura Delogu, sopranos. Samples of Peruvian Codes from the Andean area in the 18th century Halfway between the European Baroque universe and traditional music, the viewpoints of two civilizations meet in sacred music. These works, born of the “meeting of two worlds”,  make  Latin  America  the  chosen  land  of  a  musical  art  that  has  developed  in  staggering proportions  since  the  late  16th  and  17th  centuries.  The  young  musicians  from  Paraguay  ‘Barroco’  tell  the  story  of  this  journey  by  blending  indigenous  and  European  instruments, from the harpsichord to the Paraguayan harp.

Homayoun Sakhi Fes Festival 2011 Performers

Batha Museum – 10.00 pm Homayoun Sakhi – Afganistan Art of Rubâb

Afghanistan, formerly at the crossroads of the Persian, Indian and Asian civilizations, remains a country of proud mountain warriors, who are today faced with the game of international powers. Homayoun Sakhi, a musical revelation in recent years, has devoted his existence to rubâb,  an Afghan lute, which sounds volatile and cutting.

Dar Mokri – 10.30 pm Nahal Tajddod and Jean‐Claude Carrière

“The Conference of the Birds” by Farid Eddin Attar Jean‐Claude Carrière and Nahal Tajaddod revive the Sufi tale of Farid Eddin Attar during areading punctuated by music. All  the  birds,  known  and  unknown,  met  one  day  and  discovered  that  they  lacked  a  king.  They  decided  to  go  in  search  of  the  bird‐king  Simorg,  a  symbol  of  Truth  in  the  Persiamystical  tradition.  This  famous  story  of  initiation,  interspersed  with  stories  and  anecdotes,  remains  forever  a  jewel  of  Muslim  spirituality.  The  great  Rumi,  Persian  mystic  and poet, said of its author, Attar (c. 1140 ‐ c. 1230): “He was the soul of Sufism, I am only following his trail.”

Dar Adiyel – 9.30 pm Ensemble Wajd – Morocco and Syria. Songs with existential and spiritual dimension, between tradition and modernity Naziha Meftah, songs  Ghaïs Jasser, composition and piano  Khaled Roumo, poetry

Dar Tazi –  11.00 pm Divana ‐ Rajasthan, North India Sufi songs of the Thar Deser A  raw  voice  capable  of  shaping  a  myriad  of  songs,  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  amanchiya  and  sarangui  fiddles,  is  the  image  of  these  nomadic  societies  that  cultivate  ahigh poetic refinement. In the poetic paradise that is the ancient land of Rajas (Rajasthan,meaning  ‘Land  of  Princes’  in  Sanskrit),  the  poet’s  voice  rises,  sinuous  and  warm,  and  illuminates our soul like “the expanse of stars in the night”.

Abd Al Malik Fes Festival 2011 Performer

Wednesday June 8th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Urban Phileas – Reunion Island, France Reunion  Island  is  a  microcosm  of  intersecting  African,  Asian,  Indian,  Arab  and  Europeanpopulations,  a  symbol  of  multiculturalism  where  all  faiths  and  communities  live  together.The  spirit  of  this  special  island  is  expressed  through  maloya,  between  Dravidian  India,Malagasy  possession  rituals  (servis  kabaré)  and  the  legacies  of  African  slavery.  UrbanPhileas,  belonging  to  the  family  Lele,  practices  this  ritual,  which  has  been  passed  downthrough generations of ancestors.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Abd Al Malik ‐ France Rapper,  slammer  and  composer,  Abd  Al  Malik  is  the  media  figure  of  a  new  culture  that has  built  itself  out  of  the  search  for  another  life,  another  language,  while  managing  the  ups and downs of existence in an urban jungle. Abd Al Malik is inspired by, amongst other ideas,  the  Sufi  philosophy  of  spiritual  and  intellectual  resources  and  the  great  texts  of Western thought.

Thursday June 9th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Ensemble baroque “Il Concerto di Arianna” – Italy Musical performance of Alessandro Stradella, Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonio Vivaldi The  illustrious  Roman  Ducci  Foundation,  which  works  for  peace  and  dialogue  between  cultures,  offers  a  repertoire  focused  on  sacred  music  under  the  direction  of  the  great conductor Marcello Panni.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Youssou N’Dour and the Super Star of Dakar ‐ Senegal Tribute to Sheikh Sidi Ahmed al‐Tijani Youssou N’dour, a true icon of West African music, has not forgotten his spiritual roots. In front  of  the  symbolic  door  of  Fez  he  will  pay  tribute  to  the  great  master  of  the Brotherhood  Tijaniyya,  founded  around  1780  by  Ahmad  al‐Tijani.  Ahmad  al‐Tijani’s mausoleum  ‐  a  place  of  pilgrimage  for  the  worldwide  Tijani  brotherhood  ‐  is  in  Blida,  in the heart of Fez Medina.

Doudou Ndiaye Rose Fes Festival 2011 Performer

Friday June 10th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Creation Doudou Ndiaye Rose and his sabar drum ensemble With the choir of St Joseph Medina led by Ambouras ‐ Senegal The  sabar  drums  of  Doudou  Ndiaye  Rose  and  his  sons,  give  a  new  dimension  to  this polyrhythmic percussion and chorus, which is animated by the spiritual conviction to own the  soul  of  Africa.  This  also  occurs  when  Muslim  and  Christian  traditions  are  absorbed  by the traditional culture of the Fefer community.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Farid Ayyaz & Party and the great voices of moroccan samâ, accompanied by the Arab‐ Andalusian Orchestra of Fez, led by Mohammed Briouel ‐ Pakistan and Morocco The expression qaûl in Sufi speech, becomes qawwalî in Indo‐Pakistani music and meets the Arab‐Andalusian al‐âla tradition from Fes and the vocal art of samâ. In  a  common  spirit  of  poetic  recitation,  with  the  same  rhythmic  frenzy  and  equal  wealth of  ornamentation,  the  powerful  vocals  of  qawwalî  by  Farid  Ayyaz  intersect  with  those  of samâ and their voices fill the sky with chanting.

Saturday June 11th Batha Museum – 4.00 pm

Syubbanul Akhyar Esemble ‐ Java, Indonesia Songs and music Hajir Marawi of Cirebon The first centuries of Islamization in Southeast Asia coincided with the heyday of medieval Sufism and developed around the 12th and 13th centuries, during which time the Sufi brotherhood tarîqat emerged. In Indonesia, Yemeni Arab traders from the Hadramout Valley were among the first to transmit a true and popular Sufism. The  musical  style  hajir  marawis,  legacy  of  the  Yemeni  Sufi  culture,  refers  to  a  set  of  hajir percussion  drums  (double  membrane)  and  marawis  (small  tambourines)  to  which  are added the oud, lute and Yemeni gambus.

Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm Kazem El Saher and Asma Lmnawar, with the artistic collaboration of Aziz Lachhab ‐ Iraq and Morocco Kazem  El  Saher,  a  prestigious  and  big‐hearted  Arabic  singer,  will  be  in  Fez  alongside  the singer  Asma  Lmnawar  from  Casablanca,  with  whom  he  recently  collaborated  to  create  a masterpiece.  This  largely  spiritual  concert  is  being  shown  for  the  first  time  in  a  repertoire especially created for, and dedicated to, Fez.

Sunday June 12th Bab Al Makina – 8.30 pm

Ben Harper ‐ USA Ben Harper expresses the roots of an America that, through its nomadic troubadours and minstrels, has brought the essence of spirituality from memories of a lost Arica, through the struggles of slavery and the hopes of the early settlers.

FES FORUM: “Giving a Soul to Globalization” 4th‐ 8th June 2011

Batha Museum – 9 am to 12 noon 2011  Forum  Theme: Dialogue  about  wisdom:  inspired  by  Farid  al‐Din  Attar’s  The

Conference of the Birds – “The  problems  we  face  cannot  be  solved  with  the  same  level  of  thinking  we  used  when we created them.” Albert Einstein Since  the  fall  of  the  Berlin  Wall,  surely  we  agree  that  the  world’s  fate  no  longer  depends on  a  balance  of  power  that  sees  mounting  tensions  between  a  western  culture dominated  by  reason,  creativity,  and  technology  and  other  cultures  driven  by  new, irrational, and dogmatic ideologies that draw solely on identity or religious affiliation? Not  to  deny  these  tensions,  we  must  understand  that  what  is  happening  is  far  more complex and deeply rooted. Whether  our  resources  draw  on  ancient  or  new  philosophies,  from  the  North  or  South, East  or  West  is  not  what  matters.  What  is  essential  is  that,  by  virtue  of  their  encounter, they  can  nourish  our  relationship  with  the  world.  The  impact  of  this  encounter  makes possible the emergence not simply of a plethora of ideas ‐ regardless of cultural relativis  but  a  genuinely  unknown  relationship  among  cultures;  a  genuine  diversity  tha challenges  and  enriches  thought,  concepts  of  society,  and  our  ideas  of  who  we  are  and can be. Thus the Persian mystic poet of the 13th century, Attar, in his The Conference of the Birds, recounted  how  the  birds,  through  an  intensive  dialogue,  were  able  to  discover  the  true significance of their existence and of their common destiny.

Faouzi Skali – The  Fes  Forum,  whose  overarching  theme  is  “Giving  A  Soul  To  Globalization”  will  address  topics  ranging  from  “Islam  and  the  West”  :  towards  a  new  civilization,”  “New horizons for the Maghreb», «What future lies ahead for the Middle East?, “The roots of the financial crisis”, “Contemporary  dilemmas”, and more…Leading figures who will attend include:  Rajmohan  Gandhi,  Katherine  Marshall,  Salamatou  Sow,  Edgar  Morin,  Majid  Rahnema,  Wim Wenders, Leila Shahid,  André Azoulay, Karen Amstrong, Bariza Khiari, Jacques Attali, Siddhartha,  Yann  Arthus‐Bertrand,  Michel  Thao  Chan,  Michael  Barry,  Leili  Anvar,  Katia  Légeret, Mohamed Valsan, Assia Alaoui Bensalah, Marie Miran‐Guyon, Mohamed Ghalmi,  Kamal  Oudghiri,  Xavier‐Simon  Guerrand‐Hermes,  Xavier  de Catheu,  Patrick  Busquet, Henri  Joyeux,  Patrick  Viveret,  Jean‐Claude  Carrière,  Amal  Arfaoui,  Saad  Khiari,  Nahal  Tajddod,  Abd  Al  Malik,  ,  Setsuko  Klossowska  de  Rola,  Adel  Rifaat,    Bahgat  Elnadi,  Joseph  Mail,  Zeyba Rahman, Gunnar Stalsett and more.

Festival in the City – Everyday- Place Boujloud at 6.30 pm – Dar Tazi at 11.00 pm

For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara DesertBerber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or 1 (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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Fes Festival of Sacred World Sacred Music Trip, A Travel Exploration Morocco Tour, Your Morocco Travel & Tour Guide

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The 16th Edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred World Music will take place in Fes, Morocco from June 4th -12th, 2010. Travel Exploration Morocco offers a tour to the Fes Festival for 11 Days/ 10 Nights that includes the opportunity to visit the Best of Morocco while enjoying Music at the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Morocco Tour Itinerary gives Moroccan Travelers the opportunity to discover Morocco’s Imperial Cities in a 4×4 on a Private Morocco Tour visiting Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and the Roman Ruins of Volubilis while basking their ears in International World Music alongside Traditional and Contemporary Moroccan music traditions.

Fes-Festival-Of-World-Sacred-Music-Sephardic-Concert

The Fès Festival of World Sacred Music is 9-day celebration held in June that takes place in the Imperial city of Fès. The Fès Festival has featured wide range of global musicians such as: Miriam Makeba, Ismael Lô, Mohamed Abdou, Tartit Women’s Ensemble, Ghada Shbéïr, Sabah Fakrih, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jan Garbarek and The Hilliard Ensemble and the Whirling Dervishes of Konya, Turkey. Performers like Youssou N’Dour, Ravi Shakar and Salif Keita have been juxtaposed with less known musical genres such as Japanese Gagaku, Indonesian Gamelan and folk music from Central Asia.

The Fes Festival of Sacred World Music Tour Includes:
► Intimate afternoon concerts at the Dar Batha Museum and its surrounding Andalusian gardens.
► Art, film exhibitions and poetry readings at the Dar Bartha Museum and other locations in Fès.
►A one-day excursion to the Roman ruins of Volubilis for a musical performance.
► Evening concerts at the Bab Makina Palace courtyard.
►Sufi nights: Sufi music rituals concerts that begin at midnight performed in the Dar Tazi gardens.

JOIN A FES FESTIVAL OF SACRED WORLD MUSIC GROUP TOUR OR VISIT FES ON A PRIVATE MOROCCO TOUR

FES FESTIVAL OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC – TOUR ITINERARY – 11 DAYS OF PURE AVENTURE

DAY 1:  CASABLANCA
►Start your morning off with coffee and baguettes at one of the cafès at Parc de La Ligue Arabe, a huge garden with avenues lined with tall palm trees, ficus, arcades, pergolas and flower beds. Visit Place Mohammed V and the Place des Nations Uniones, the main focal points of Ville Novelle,Casa’s new town.

►Visit the famous residential blocks: the Glaoui, the Bessonneau and the Asayag. The Boulevard links Place des Nationes with the railway station and is the gateway to the central market. Continue a short way to the Avenue des Forces Royal, a commercial area that leads into the old medina. See the squala, a fortified 18th century bastion.

►Enjoy lunch at one of the international restaurants by Casa’s port, the Corniche.

Casablanca-Hassan-II-Mosque

►After lunch visit the Mosque of Hassan II. Casablanca is home to the Hassan II Mosque, designed by the French architectMichel Pinseau. It is situated on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers.A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque’s courtyard. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 meters. On Fridays, the Mosque of Hassan II is open to non-Muslims.

►After touring the Mosque of Hassan II, head over to the New Town of Casablanca also designed by the French architect Henri Prost. The main streets of the New Town (Ville Nouvelle in French) radiate south and east from Place des Nations Unies, where the main market of Anfa had been. Their style is a combination of Hispano-Mauresque and Art Deco styles. End the day with a visit to The Parc de la Ligue Arabe (formally called Lyautey) which is the city’s largest public park. On its edge is situated the Cathedrale du Sacré Coeur, which is disused, but is a splendid example of Mauresque architecture.

►After touring Casa, take the road to Fès and arrive in the early evening and settle in at your hotel.

►Enjoy dinner at Le Maison Bleu, one of the most elegant Fassis restaurants with traditional music.

Moulay-Idriss

DAY 2:  FES – MOULAY IDRISS – VOLUBILIS
►After a traditional Moroccan breakfast travel on a two hour excursion outside of Fès to explore the breathtaking archaeological site of Volubilis (Walili). Once occupied by the Romans, Volubilis has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site and gained international acclaim when Martin Scorsese made it a feature location for his film, The Last Temptation of Christ. Begin your visit by discovering the fascinating Romanruins adorned with beautiful mosaics and colorful tiles depicting Roman mythology.

►The ruins are spread out across several acres and what remains visible is several fragments of wall, parts of massive columns, the capitol, the basilica and a triumphal arch. You can view how the Roman Empire transformed the original Carthaginian settlement into a typical Roman city complete with mansions, a town center, a triumphal arc and temples devoted to the Roman gods.

► Explore the sacred town filled with defensive walls, a monumental gate, koranic schools, fountains and a new dome for the mausoleum. While the Tomb of Moulay Idriss is closed to non-Muslims, from the terrace near the Mosque of Sidi Abdallah el Hajjam, you can see views of the town and the mausoleum.

►Enjoy light fare for lunch at the small café that sits just below the Volubilis ruins.

►Depart back to Fès where you will enjoy an evening Festival performance.

DAY 3: FES
►After a breakfast of Semolina break, fruit, coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice, your day will begin at the Merenid Tombs of Fès. Standing among olive trees and blue agaves, the 16th century elegant ruins of marble and epitaphs face a breathtaking view of the Fès. Visit the Musée des Armes.

►Next, enter the Fès el- Bali through the symmetrical horse shoe arches at Bab Boujeloud (The Blue Gate). Fès -el Bali, best characterized as a sea of rooftops embellished with minarets and domes, is too narrow for cars. Aside from walking, donkeys and mules are still the best way to travel within the cities old walls.

►Upon entering Rue Talaa Kebira, the main street in the medina, you will see lines of shops covered by canopies. Make your way to the Karaouiyine Mosque. Located in the Karaouiyine quarter, the Mosque is one of the oldest in the world and functioned as the first university in Morocco. After your visit, continue along the streets which will lead you to some of Fès’ most important buildings including Dar el- Magana, a 14th centurywater clock and Zaouia el Tijaniya, containing the tomb of Ahmed el Tijani. Next we will visit the UNESCO recognized site, Fondouk el- Najjarine.

►Lunch within the medina at one of the fine Moroccan palace-restaurants that serve mezas (small plates of food) common among Fassis tradition. Enjoy mezas of Choukchouka salad, Zaalouk salad, Carrots with Cumin Seed, raisin and orange salad, cold radish, orange, and fennel Salad. The mezas are traditionally followed by the main meal which will include the option of a: Lamb, Prune, and Date Tagine, a Chicken Tagine with Olives and Preserved Lemons or a Vegetable Tagine. For desert you will be served with fruit/ or local Moroccan pastries along with Mint Tea.

Fes-Metalsmith

Within the medina, we will the following historical sites:

Medersa Bou Inania: An (Islamic school) founded by Abu Inan Faris that is highly decorated from floor to ceiling. The medersa is one of the few religious places in Morocco that is accessible to non-Islamic tourists.

Kairaouine Mosque: Morocco’s second largest mosque was built by Fatima in 857. The Kairaouine Mosque became the home of the West’s first university and the world’s foremost center of learning at the beginning of the second millennium.

University of Al-Karaouine: Founded in 859, this university is one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world and is considered the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the world.

Medersa el Attarin: A (Koranic school) that was named for local spice merchants known as attar. Founded by Sultan Abou Saïd in the 14th century as a students’ dormitory, it is attached to the Kairaouine Mosque.

Zaouia Moulay Idriss II: A zaouia (shrine) dedicated to and the tomb of Moulay Idriss II, who ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and founded the city of Fès for the second time in 810.

Dar Batha: A Hispano-Moorish palace dating from the end of the 19th century that houses admirable collections of traditional art from Fès.

DAY 4: FES – MEKNES
►After a breakfast begin your tour of Meknes at Bab Mansour. We will take the road from Fès to Meknès.

►We will stop and visit the Musée Dar Jamaï, a museum showing modern Moroccan arts, woodwork, ceramics, carpets, costumes, jewelry and metalwork. Next, we will stop by Bou Inania Medersa to explore the beautiful Koranic school established by the Merinids in the 14th century. Opposite of the Medersa, is the Grand Mosque.

►Browse Rue de Souks, a street filled with hardware merchants (akarir), corn chandlers (bezzazine) and metalsmiths (haddadin). Next we will stop at the En-Nejjarine Mosque, a 12th century Almohad built structure. View the zellij tilework of the Bab el-Berdaïne gateway.

►Among the most impressive elements of this imperial city is the grand gate named after the architect, El-Mansour, a Christian renegade who converted to Islam. It was completed 5 years after Moulay Ismail’s death, in 1732. The design of the gate plays with Almohad patterns. It has zellij mosaics of excellent quality. The marble columns were taken from the Roman ruins of Volubilis. The gate was finished after Moulay Ismail’s death and is now used as an arts and crafts gallery with an entrance by the side gate.

►Lunch in the heart of the medina at Zitouna, a charming restaurant serving traditional Moroccan cuisine.

► Explore Dar el-Kebira, a fortified quarter that is known as the imperial city. Visit the palaces and mosques located within the heart of Ksar Dar el-Kebira, the heart of the Imperial city. Dar el-Keibra features a suite of three rooms, twelve columns and a sanctuary hosting the tyrannical sultan, the tombs are reminiscent of the Saadian Tombs in Marrakesh. Next, drive to see Koubba el-Khayatine and Habs Qara, an imperial pavilion that once received diplomats who came to negotiate the ransom of Christian prisoners. Continue on to see Dar el Makhzen, the “Palace of Labyrinths” and then to Bassin de l’Aguedal, a water tank built to supply water to the palace and imperial city. Before returning to Fès, we will visit the well known Haras de Meknès, the largest national stud that can accommodate up to two-hundred and thirty one horses. Created in 1912, Haras de Meknès promotes the best breeds of horses to be used during a fantasia or competitive horse races.

►Evening Fès Fèstival performance.

DAY 5: EXPLORE FES VILLE NOUVELLE
►After breakfast drive to Ville Nouvelle, the new town dating from the French Protectorate that lies south of Fès el Bali. Originally the shopping center was designed to accommodate westerners living in Morocco, however, today it is considered to be a modern Moroccan city.

►Have lunch in one of the out door cafes in Ville Nouvelle then explore the shops in the new town.

►In the morning, visitors can participate in round table discussions covering topics related to the theme of the Fèstival. In the afternoon, evening, and late at night, there are concerts given by performers arriving from every angle of the globe. The musical spectrum heard includes early European classical, Sufi ritual songs and trance music, Arab-Andalusian rhythms, a Bulgarian orthodox choir, Hindustani chants,Celtic sacred music, Christian Gospel, Swedish chamber choir, Pakistani Qawwali incantations, Egyptian madhi odes, flamenco-style Christian saeta, ancient Indian gwalior chants and Turkish whirling dervishes.

►Traditionally, the Festival’s afternoon concerts take place by the Dar Batha Museum, which is set amidst a beautiful Andalusian garden and has a backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. During the evening concerts are held at the Bab Makina and Palace Boujeloud.  Every evening at midnight, there are free “Sufi Nights”. These highly popular Sufi ritual trance performances are held at the Dar Tazi Palacegardens where Sufi brotherhoods like the Hamadcha, the Aissaoua and The Master Musicians of Jajouka perform while you relax on Berber rugs and sip mint tea.

DAY 6: FES- MOULAY YACOUB
►After breakfast drive to the hot springs of Moulay Yacoub. The springs of Moulay Yacoub are known for their healing powers. Located in a small, Berber village at the foothills of the Rif mountains Moulay Yacoub is a relaxing Spa excursion.

►Return to Fès for afternoon concerts.  Dinner at your hotel. Festival events. Sufi Nights at Dar Tazi Palace

DAY 7: FES SEFROU – B’HALIL
►After breakfast, drive to the ancient Jewish city of Sefrou. This city predates Fès by one thousand years. Sefrou has played a large role as the last stop of Subsaharan caravans transporting goods for the European markets.

►Visit the shrine of Sidi Lahcen Al Yussi a well venerated Sufi master considered to be the custodian of this ancient outpost.  Other Rabbi’s Mausoleums and synagogues will also be part of this journey into antiquity.  On our way back to Fès we will stop to visit the ancient Christian village of B’halilknown for its fascinating troglodytes (cave) dwellings. Evening:  Festival events. Sufi Nights at Dar Tazi Palace.

DAY 8: FES
►Visit the Andalucian part of the Fès Medina to discover the history of the Moors who immigrated to Morocco from Spain in the 13th century.

►Afternoon concerts at Dar Batha.  Evening: Closing ceremony of Fès Festival.

DAY 9: FES KHENIFRA – MARRAKECH
►Depart Fès via Azrou and Khenifra across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Visit Berber villages, scenic views and local markets.

►Lunch in Khenifra. Dinner and accommodation in Marrakesh.

DAY 10:  BEST OF MARRAKECH GUIDED TOUR
►Depart from your hotel. Your introduction to Marrakesh will begin in the Medina, the old quarter of the Marrakesh. From here we will explore this historically charming area by foot. In Djemma el Fna, you will visit the famous 12th century Koutouba Mosque and its influential minaret.

►Explore the aromatic streets, taste the fresh squeeze orange juice and venture into the souks (shops) specializing in Berber carpets, silver jewelry, artisan workshops,handmade shoes, tanneries, etc.  Marrakesh is a city of underground channels built by the architects from Cordoba, Spain to provide water for the town and Palmery. We will drive to the Lower Medina to explore more of Marrakesh’s secrets: El Mansour mosque, the sixteenth century Saadian Tombs with its stark towers, the ruined 16th century El Badhi palace, and the Mellah and the Jewish quarter.

►Enjoy a three- course lunch at one of Marrakesh most delectable restaurants. After lunch we will head north of the Mellah to visit the 19th centuryBahia palace, originally built for Si Moussa, a former slave who became King Moulay Hassan’s chamberlain. The palace holds a courtyard and riads decorated with intricately carved stucco and Arabic architecture. Next we will visit the contemporary Moroccan Art Museum or Tiskiwin, a private museum dedicated to popular arts & crafts, a Spanish-Moroccan house, next door to Dar Si Said palace, a smaller version of the Bahia.

►Next we will visit the new city, French, Gueliz, the garden district, and then head to the Majorelle Gardens, a lush garden estate designed by Jacque Majorelle and maintained by Yves Saint Laurent. The Majorelle Garden is filled with colorful walkways, ponds, cactus and plants as well as a beautiful shop with hand-made goods. On our return to your hotel, we will pass by the La Mammounia Hotel Garden (where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the famous film The Birds)

DAY 11:  MARRAKECH CASABLANCA
►Early morning transfer to Casablanca Airport. This ends your Fes Festival of Sacred World Music & Morocco Travel Tour.

Bauls-of-Bengal-Fes-Festival-2010-Artist

FES FESTIVAL OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC PROGRAM
2010
Fesi Festival of World Sacred Music Dates: June 4th -10th, 2010

June 4th
Bab Makina 20h30
Royal Ballet of Cambodia (Cambodia) The Legend of the Creation of the Khmer Kingdom

June 5th
Batha Museum 16h00
The Young Gotipuras Dancers (India) Ritual acrobatic dance from the temples of Orissa

Bab Makina 20h30
Ben Harper (USA) The roots of popular American music, from gospel to blues, from reggae to folk

June 6th
Batha Museum 16h00
hakila Saidi & the Rajab Suleiman Trio (Tanzania) The art of taraab in Swahili tradition

Bab Makina 20h30
Africa Spirit: The Sufi Ensemble Mtendeni Maulid (Zanzibar) and Les Maîtres Tambours (Burundi) Sufi ritual and sacred rhythm

June 7th
Batha Museum 16h00
Ahmed Essyad and the Accroche Note Ensemble (Morocco) Forbidden Voices: mystical poems of Hussain Mansour Al-Hallaj

A Night in the Medina 20h30
Various locations including the Batha Museum, Dar Tazi, Dar Mokri, Dar Adiyel and the Ben Danan Synagogue
Camille with Clément Ducol (France) God is Sound and Bach, Le Canon Perpétuel
The Constantinople Ensemble and Barbara Furtuna (Iran & France) Canti di a Terra
Ustad Gholam Hossain and his ensemble (Afghanistan) Sufi Chants and Robab Lute
Epi (Mongolia) Songs of the Steppe Nomads
Gülay Haçer Toruk (Turkey) Songs of Anatolia
Kiya and Ziya Tabassian (Iran) Sitar and Persian tombak
Musicians of the Nile (Egypt) Tanoura Sufi dance and song from Luxor

June 8th
Batha Museum 16h00
SamulNori Hanullim Ensemble (South Korea) Percussion and Sacred Dance of Korea

Bab Makina 20h30
Shahram Nazeri and the Rumi Ensemble (Iran) The Sufi poetry of Jalâl ud Dîn Rûmî

June 9th
Batha Museum 16h00
Parvathy Bâul (India) Mystical poetry of the Bauls of Bengal

Bab Makina 20h30
Jordi Savall  and the Hesperion XXI Ensemble (Spain) with guests from Morocco, Iraq, Greece, Israel, Galilee and Armenia Jerusalem, City of Heavenly Peace and Earthly Peace

June 10th
Batha Museum 10h00
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (India) Morning ragas on a bansuri flute

Batha Museum 16h00
Bagdad-Jerusalem Ensemble (Israel & Iraq) Music of the Jewish tradition of Baghdad

Bab Makina 20h30
Sizero Tabla Experience (India & United Kingdom) Rhythmic India

June 11th
Batha Museum 16h00     
Dhafer Youssef and his Ensemble (Tunisia) Sufi Songs revisited

Bab Makina 20h30
Great Voices of Aleppo with Sabah Fakhri, Sheikh Habboush, Mustafa Hilal, Ahmad Azrak and Safwan Abid (Syria)

June 12th
Batha Museum 16h00
David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters invite Archie Shepp (USA & Caribbean)

Bab Makina 20h30
Gospel Voices:
Part I: Sista Kee (USA)
Part II: The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA)

Fes-Festival-Forum

FES FESTIVAL ENCOUNTERS- FORUM
09h00 to 13h00 June 5th -9th at the Batha Museum in Fes

June 5th:  Journey to the Inside
June 6th: Journey into scripture
June 7th The pilgrimage
June 8th: Exile
June 9th:   The mythical journey

Plus: Discussions every evening from 18h00 to 20h00

Ben-Harper-l-Fes-Festival-2010-Artist

FES FESTIVAL IN THE CITY PROGRAM
June 5th -13th

– Concerts at 18h30 at Place Boujloud
– Concerts at 20h00 at Ait Skato
– Sufi Nights from 23h00 at Dar Tazi
– Educational activities for children and artistic workshops at 15h00 and at 18h00 at al Qods Complex and al Houria Complex
– Exhibitions at Batha Museum and at Dar Tazi

For more information about the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music or a Travel Exploration Morocco Group Tour

For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara DesertBerber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate.

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806  or 1 (917)703-2078  and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Fes, Fes Festival of Sacred World Music Tour, Fes Festival Tour, The 16th Edition of the Fes Festival of Sacred World Music, Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Tour, Fes Tour, Fes Historical Tour, Fes Festival Tour, Fes Morocco Tour, Fes UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fes Festival Group Tour, Fes Festival Private Tour, Batha Museum, Bab Makina, Morocco Travel, Tours to Morocco, Morocco Vacations, Morocco Holidays

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Program, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Monday, January 25th, 2010

The 16th Edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music will take place in Fes, Morocco from June 4th -12th, 2010. The Fes Festival’s theme for 2010 is “Journey of Initiation: from mystery to revelation.

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is 9-day celebration held in mid-summer (June 2010) that takes place in the imperial city of Fes. The festival was founded in 1994 by the Moroccan scholar and philanthropist Faouzi Skali and was created to showcase major musical traditions of sacred, spiritual music and world music. The current Artistic Director is Cherif Khaznadar, a pioneer of world music and one of the most influential Artistic Directors on the scene. Each year the festival celebrates artists from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu and other faiths to perform together in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration.

Bab-Makina-Fes-Festival-Of-Sacred-Music-Whirling- Dervishes

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is comprised of:

A four-day Forum called Rencontres de Fes under the rubric “Giving Soul to Globalisation” where politicians, social activists, academics and religious leaders come together in dialogue to discuss the urgent issues of our times. These include conflict resolution, climate change, urban renewal, social justice and much more. Intimate afternoon concerts are held at the Dar Batha Museum and its surrounding Andalusian gardens. Art and film exhibitions, poetry readings at the Dar Bartha Museum and other locations within Fes.

Fes-Festival-World-Sacred-Music-Batha-Museum-Afternoon-Concert

Sufi nights: Sufi music rituals concerts that begin at midnight performed by Moroccan Sufi brotherhoods in the Dar Tazi gardens, in the heart of the Fes medina. Sufi brotherhoods (tarikas) are common in Morocco, and music is an integral part of their spiritual tradition, in contrast to most other forms of Islam, which do not use music. Sufi music is an attempt at reaching a trance-state which inspires mystical ecstasy. The brothers hold hands in a circle and chant or dance. Marrakesh and other regions of Morocco are home to the Gnaoua Brotherhood, which claims descent from the Ethiopian muezzin Sidi Bilal. Gnaoua ceremonies (deiceba) are used to protect against mental illness, scorpion stings and malicious spirits. Deiceba may be related to Sub-Saharan African ceremonies and use a long-necked lute of African origin called the guembri, as well as castanets called garagab.

Fes-Festival-Of-World-Sacred-Music-Sufi-Nights-Celebration

The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music has featured wide range of global musicians such as Miriam Makeba, Ismael Lô, Mohamed Abdou, Tartit Women’s Ensemble, Ghada Shbéïr, , Sabah Fakrih, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jan Garbarek and The Hilliard Ensemble and the Whirling Dervishes of Konya in the dance of Odissi Madhvi Mudgal.  Performers like Youssou N’Dour, Ravi Shakar and Salif Keita have been juxtaposed with less known musical genres such as Japanese Gagaku, Indonesian Gamelan and folk music from Central Asia.

Fes-Festival-Sufi- Festival

FES FESTIVAL OF WORLD SACRED MUSIC PROGRAM
2010
June 4th -10th, 2010

June 4th
Bab Makina 20h30
Royal Ballet of Cambodia (Cambodia) The Legend of the Creation of the Khmer Kingdom

June 5th
Batha Museum 16h00
The Young Gotipuras Dancers (India) Ritual acrobatic dance from the temples of Orissa

Bab Makina 20h30
Ben Harper (USA) The roots of popular American music, from gospel to blues, from reggae to folk

June 6th
Batha Museum 16h00
Shakila Saidi & the Rajab Suleiman Trio (Tanzania) The art of taraab in Swahili tradition

Bab Makina 20h30
Africa Spirit: The Sufi Ensemble Mtendeni Maulid (Zanzibar) and Les Maîtres Tambours (Burundi) Sufi ritual and sacred rhythm

June 7th
Batha Museum 16h00
Ahmed Essyad and the Accroche Note Ensemble (Morocco) Forbidden Voices: mystical poems of Hussain Mansour Al-Hallaj

A Night in the Medina 20h30
Various locations including the Batha Museum, Dar Tazi, Dar Mokri, Dar Adiyel and the Ben Danan Synagogue
Camille with Clément Ducol (France) God is Sound and Bach, Le Canon Perpétuel
The Constantinople Ensemble and Barbara Furtuna (Iran & France) Canti di a Terra
Ustad Gholam Hossain and his ensemble (Afghanistan) Sufi Chants and Robab Lute
Epi (Mongolia) Songs of the Steppe Nomads
Gülay Haçer Toruk (Turkey) Songs of Anatolia
Kiya and Ziya Tabassian (Iran) Sitar and Persian tombak
Musicians of the Nile (Egypt) Tanoura Sufi dance and song from Luxor

June 8th
Batha Museum 16h00
SamulNori Hanullim Ensemble (South Korea) Percussion and Sacred Dance of Korea

Bab Makina 20h30
Shahram Nazeri and the Rumi Ensemble (Iran) The Sufi poetry of Jalâl ud Dîn Rûmî

June 9th
Batha Museum 16h00
Parvathy Bâul (India) Mystical poetry of the Bauls of Bengal

Bab Makina 20h30
Jordi Savall  and the Hesperion XXI Ensemble (Spain) with guests from Morocco, Iraq, Greece, Israel, Galilee and Armenia Jerusalem, City of Heavenly Peace and Earthly Peace

June 10th
Batha Museum 10h00
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (India) Morning ragas on a bansuri flute

Batha Museum 16h00
Bagdad-Jerusalem Ensemble (Israel & Iraq) Music of the Jewish tradition of Baghdad

Bab Makina 20h30
Sizero Tabla Experience (India & United Kingdom) Rhythmic India

June 11th
Batha Museum 16h00     
Dhafer Youssef and his Ensemble (Tunisia) Sufi Songs revisited

Bab Makina 20h30
Great Voices of Aleppo with Sabah Fakhri, Sheikh Habboush, Mustafa Hilal, Ahmad Azrak and Safwan Abid (Syria)

June 12th
Batha Museum 16h00
David Murray and the Gwo Ka Masters invite Archie Shepp (USA & Caribbean)

Bab Makina 20h30
Gospel Voices:
Part I: Sista Kee (USA)
Part II: The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA)

FES FESTIVAL ENCOUNTERS
09h00 to 13h00 June 5th -9th at the Batha Museum in Fes

June 5th: Journey to the Inside
June 6th:         Journey into scripture
June 7th The pilgrimage
June 8th:         Exile
June 9th:         The mythical journey

Plus: Discussions every evening from 18h00 to 20h00

FES FESTIVAL IN THE CITY PROGRAM
June 5th -13th

– Concerts at 18h30 at Place Boujloud
– Concerts at 20h00 at Ait Skato
– Sufi Nights from 23h00 at Dar Tazi

– Educational activities for children and artistic workshops at 15h00 and at 18h00 at al Qods Complex and al Houria Complex

– Exhibitions at Batha Museum and at Dar Tazi

For more information on attending the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music on a Travel Exploration Morocco Group Tour

For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara DesertBerber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate.

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806  or 1 (917)703-2078  and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Fes, Fes Festival of Sacred World Music, The 16th Edition of the Fes Festival of Sacred World Music, Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Tour, Fes Tour, Fes Historical Tour, Fes Festival Tour, Fes Morocco Tour, Fes UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fes Festival Group Tour, Fes Festival Private Tour, Batha Museum, Bab Makina, Morocco Travel, Tours to Morocco, Morocco Vacations, Morocco Holidays