Revels-Bey Music PO Box 13,Uniondale,NY 11553 565.9404 www.revels-bey.com The Rhythm Kings

Program

America’s Musical Roots Of Latin Jazz

“Exploring the Heart of

Moorish Spain”

The History of the Moorish Empire

Prior to Spain the ancient Moabites had extends across the great Atlantic into North, South and Central American thus the Moorish domination of the seas.

It is important to point out that as time goes on what is now known as Latin America is highly influenced by European colonization and the slave trade with Africa. Currently, Latin America, the countries of the Western Hemisphere south of the United States, include the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central and South America and contain an amalgamation of cultural influences, namely European, The Moors, Mexican, and other African tribes. Europe contributed the religions and two main languages, Spanish and Portuguese. Much of the native Moorish culture, which was in place before the arrival of the Spaniards and Christopher Columbus, was suppressed due to forced assimilation; the rest was combined with the arrival of slaves and other cultures in the 16th century. Through this rich cultural mix, a distinct Moorish or commonly referred to as African-Caribbean culture has emerged.

Southern Spain

The myth African music is only drum’s. Yes and

comprises xylophones, flutes, harps, horns and bells.

Moorish civilization was on what is now European soil from the eighth to the fifteenth century, rivaling in its "passion for literature, art and science," the Caliphate in the East. "The Moors organized that wonderful Kingdom of Cordova which was the Marvel of the Middle ages, and which, when all Europe was plunged in barbaric ignorance and strife, alone held the torch of learning and civilization bright and shining before the Western world."

Education was universal in Moorish Spain, being given to the most humble, while in Christian Europe ninety-nine percent of the people were illiterate, and even kings could neither read nor write. You had Moorish women who were doctors and lawyers and professors. Jewish scholars studied under the Moors, and then went to England and set up a scientific school at what later came to be Oxford University.

Plaza de Espana, in Vejer de la Frontera, 10 miles fom the coast of Andalusia

The magnificent Alhambra palace complex.The 15th century Parador de San Francisco, within the walls of

the Alhambra

Colleges and LibrariesAt such cities as Cordova, Toledo, Seville and other towns, became world renowned with the College at Cordova attracting thousands of students. Material and intellectual wealth seemed to go hand in hand. The coffers of the Sultan' Abd al Rahman II (d. 961) brimmed over with twenty million pieces of gold, whilst the library of the Sultan AI-Hakam II (d. 976) contained four hundred thousand (1/2 million ) books. This latter Monarch founded twenty-seven free schools in Cordova and paid the teachers from his own purse.“ Jug and Mosaic tile

Game Box of the Daughter of Abd al-Rahman III Caliphal period, before 961 Ivory and metal reads: This is what was made [for] Noble [Daughter], the daughter of 'Abd al-Rahman, Commander of the Faithful.'

Cordovain the tenth century, was very much like a modern city. Its streets were well paved and there were raised sidewalks for pedestrians. At night, one could walk for ten miles by the light of lamps, flanked by an uninterrupted extent of buildings. This was hundreds of years before there was a paved street in Paris, France, or a street lamp in London, England. The population of Cordova was over a million. There were 200,000 homes, 800 public schools, and many colleges and universities. Cordova possessed 10,000 palaces of the wealthy, besides many royal palaces, surrounded by beautiful gardens. There were even 5,000 mills in Cordova at a time when there was not even one in the rest of Europe. There were also 900 public baths, besides a large number of private ones, at a time when the rest of Europe considered bathing as extremely sinful, and to be avoided as much as possible. Cordova was also graced by a system of over 4,000 public markets. The marvellous cities of Toledo, Seville, and Granada were rivals of Cordova in respect to grandeur and magnificence. According to De Fontenelle: The Moors of Granada, a small people, burned by the sun, full of wit and fire, always in love, writing verse, fond of music, arranging festivals, dances, and tournaments every day. (Top) Marble,

(Middle) Wool Carpet(bottom) Silk and gilt parchment banner

The Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain

Inside of the dome.

had a scarlet and gold roof, with 1,000 columns of porphyry and marble. It was lit by more than 200 silver chandeliers, containing more than 1,000 silver lamps burning perfumed oil.

InstrumentsNorth African Story Tellers Drum Traditional story tellers drum made in Morocco. Skin on both sides. Beautiful traditional painting on both skin heads.

The tablah is a small hand-drum also known as the durbakke. One of the most commonly played of the percussion instruments, the tablah is a membranophone of goat or fish skin stretched over a vase-shaped drum with a wide neck. Usually made of earthenware or metal, it is placed either under the left arm or between the legs and struck in the middle for the strong beats and on the edge for the sharp in-between beats.

CastanetsCastanets have existed for at least 2000 years. Described as 'clappers' or finger cymbals, they were used extensively in ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures. Their contemporary name comes from the Spanish word castana , or "chestnut". Ranging in size from around two to seven inches, these handheld percussive instruments are made from small disks of metal, hardwood or nutshells which have been slightly hollowed along one side to increase their resonance. Castanets are often played by dancers, one pair held in each hand; their intricate rhythms match and articulate the steps of the performer. According to James Blades, the 'macho' (or male) pair in one's left hand plays a basic rhythm; the 'hembra' (or female) pair in the right hand articulates a full dance rhythm. Although the specific origin of castanets is not known, their current history is clear: anywhere Spanish (and prior to that, Moorish) communities have traveled, these enduring instruments are usually found as, for example, in much of South and Central America. Another clapper (different in design, but similar in function) is the "clave", two rounded hardwood sticks which provide a central rhythmic element in many Latin American and Caribbean musics.

Lute Bandurria & Laud

The lute came to Europe towards the end of the 13th C. During the Renaissance the Lute had an enormous repertoire and occupied a very special place of honor. The very early Lutes had backs carved from a solid piece of wood, but by the Renaissance a series of separate ribs were employed to construct the curved back. 12-string guitar-like instruments of Spain.

The bandurria is shaped like a mandolin with a large round soundhole and 14 frets. The strings are tuned in pairs, to G#, c#, f#, b, e, a and g#. The Laud is larger with f-holes and 20 frets. Tuned one octave below the Bandurria

The Daff, Mijwi,& Qanun

Also known as the Rikk, the Daff is the Arabic name for the popular instrument corresponding to the English tambourine. It consists of a round frame, covered on one side with goat or fish skin. Pairs of metal discs are set into the frame to produce the jingle when struck by the hand. The Mijwiz, which literally means 'dual' in Arabic, is a type of double reed clarinet popular in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. In North Africa its equivalent is known as the maqrum. The Qanun is a descendent of the old Egyptian harp, a kind of dulcimer, its Arabic name means 'rule' or 'law.'

Dance “Flamenco”Flamenco is an individualistic, yet structured folk art from Andalusia, which is often improvised and spontaneous. The song, dance and guitar are blended together by the passionate rhythms of southern Spain which is flamenco's geographical birthplace.Gypsies say it's in the blood, but Spain's famous poet and writer Fredrico Garcia Lorca, called flamenco one of the greatest inventions of the Spanish people. Some dare to disagree. Yet the tragic lyrics and tones of flamenco clearly reflect the sufferings of the gypsy people. Flamenco is an individualistic, yet structured folk art from Andalucía, which is often improvised and spontaneous. The song, dance and guitar are blended together by the passionate rhythms of southern Spain which is flamenco's geographical birthplace.

It is thought that the gypsies who ended up in Andalucía travelled from India and Pakistan acquiring the name "gitano" from Egiptano, the old Spanish word for Egyptian.Apart from the Indian and Jewish influences, the Moors made an immense contribution to the moulding of the form and content of the flamenco song of today, which is not surprising since they ruled Spain for seven centuries. Yet flamenco in its present form is only some two hundred years old.The source of flamenco lies in its singing tradition, so the singer's role is very important. The flamenco guitar was used originally as an instrument of accompaniment. Today solo flamenco guitar has developed as a separate art. Whilst some purists disapprove of the fashionable attempts to blend flamenco with jazz, blues, rock and pop music, it is no wonder that so many young people embrace it wholeheartedly.Apart from songs delivered from different regions such as fandangos from Huelva, Alegrias from Cadiz, there are broadly speaking two main styles in Flamenco: the "jondo" - profound and serious, the cry of people oppressed for many centuries; and the "chico" - happy, light and often humorous. The song "el cante" is most important as it is considered to be the source which gives inspiration to the guitar playing "el toque" and the dance "el baile".Flamenco dance is by nature oriental, so differs fundamentally from other well established European dance forms. Complex rhythmic patterns are created by a sophisticated footwork technique, so the flamenco dancer wears special shoes or boots with dozens of nails driven to the soles and heels. The ladies wear long coustumes often with many frills and practice for hours, their elegant arm and hand movements, the upper body must emphasis grace and posture.

African Instruments

Balafon: Xylophone from northwestern Ghana. Frame and keys made from hardwood. Each key has a sized gourd resonator The xylophones or ‘Gyile’ in Dagarti are from the North West of Ghana. They are also known as ‘Balafon’ and ‘Marimba’. The xylophonist is also a vocalist, playing on their own or with flute or drum. Xylophones are used at funerals, festivals and celebrations providing both melody and rhythm. The keys are carved from African wood, on a frame of wood and bamboo.

Carved Djembe Design based on the traditional drum of  the West African Mandingo people. Goat skin head, one piece high grade mahogany body hand carved by master Balinese carvers

Gankoqui Double Bells These double bells are handforged by the best Ewe blacksmiths and are used for all of their traditional music. The Gankoqui is created from iron that is heated to blistering temperature, hammered and shaped to the proper size and set back in the fire for tempering. Its clear and cutting tone demonstrates why it has been the center of so much traditional African music.

References

Silk Curtain

Ivory Casket

Moorish Spain Humanities 310 : Spanish Culture Modern Languages and Literatures Dept. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Van Sertima, Ivan, Golden Age of the Moor, New Brunswick, NJ, Transaction Publishers, 1992

Lane-Poole, Stanley, The Story of The Moors In Span, Balitimore, MD, Black Classic Press 1990

Chase,Gilbert, The Music of Spain, New York: Dover,1959