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Musics of Algeria: Selected Recordings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2016

Dwight Reynolds*
Affiliation:
University of California-SantaBarbara

Extract

Algeria holds a singular place for Arab culture as a region in which the musical traditions of Islamic Spain, the Ottoman Empire, the eastern Arab countries (the Mashriq), Saharan and West Africa, Berbers, Bedouin and Europe have all interacted to various degrees. Morocco to the west was never as directly exposed to Ottoman and eastern Arab musical traditions; Tunisia and Libya to the east have had far less contact with sub-Saharan and West African musics and far more direct contact with the musics of their eastern neighbors. To simplify this complex musical landscape to some degree, the many distinct musical traditions of Algeria can be roughly divided into five groups: 1) Andalusian traditions, 2) Urban popular traditions, 3) Arabic-language folk traditions, 4) Berber and Saharan traditions, 5) the modern rai, or “pop-rai,” phenomenon. Recordings listed below have been selected for their representativeness and availability in the United States and Canada.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Middle East Studies Association of North America 1995

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References

Andalusian Recordings

Algérie: Anthologie de la musique arabo-andalouse Vols. 1-3. Paris: Ocora C 560002–4, 1990-93.Google Scholar
Min turāthnā al-thaqāfī. (‘Abdelkrim Dali) Algiers: Entreprise nationale de radiodifusion (Unité de disques Eucalyptus) 1988. LP 1039.Google Scholar
Min turāthnā al-thaqāfī. (Dahmane Ben Achour) Algiers: Entreprise nationale de radiodifusion (Unité de disques Eucalyptus) 1988. LP 1038.Google Scholar
Reinette L’Oranaise: Trésors de la Musique Arabo-Andalouse. Paris: Michel Levy Productions, 1988. MLPCD 1302.Google Scholar
Sidi Boumedienne and Hanina: Nuri Koufi. [Hawzī music from Tlemcen] Nouriphone: Tlemcen, Algeria [n.d.].Google Scholar

Urban Popular Traditions

Arabian Nights. Counterpoint/Esoteric Records, New York CPT-547 [recorded in Algiers] 1957 featuring the Toraia Orchestra and singers Anissa Toraia and Anissa Zouina.Google Scholar
Le Néo Chaâbî. Messaoudi, Kamel. France CDS 8751. CMM 1993.Google Scholar
Ya Wilfi Maryam (El-Hajj Muhammad El Anka) “El Anka et la tradition Chaâbî.” Voix d’Algiers LP 1043:E1Google Scholar
Musique populaire d’Afrique du Nord. Paris: Vogue CLVLX 423 197?Google Scholar

Berber and Saharan Traditions

Algeria (Sahara) Music of Gourara. Musical Atlas/UNESCO collection. EMI/Odeon 3C 06418079. 1975. Pierre Augier.Google Scholar
Algerian Berber Music (Kabylia). By Belateche, Rita. Folkways FE #4341. 1966.Google Scholar
Houria Aïchi: Songs of the Aures. Paris: Auvidis/Ethnic B 6749, 1990.Google Scholar

Rai

You Are Mine. Chaba Fadéla and Chab Sahraoui. Mango (UK) 1988 ZCM 9827 [CD and cassette]Google Scholar
Nights without Sleeping. Chaba Zahouania. Mango (UK) 1988 ZCM 9831.Google Scholar
Rimitti: Sidi Mansour. Paris: Absolute, 1994. Absolcd 2. Houari Talbi.Google Scholar
Hada Raykoum [“That’s what you want”]. Khaled, Chab. Triple Earth (UK) mid-1980s.Google Scholar
N’ssi N’ssi. Khaled, Cheb. Mango (UK) 1993.Google Scholar
Rai Roots. Remitti, Cheikha. CMM/Buda Musique, France.Google Scholar