Aicha Redouane, Habib Yammine - aïcha redouane et habib yammine

Aicha Redouane, Habib Yammine
And the ‘Al Adwar’ group
Art of the Arab Maqam
Near East Nahda (renaissance) Tradition
Born in the Moroccan Middle Atlas and living with her family in France since her very
young age, Aicha Redouane has experienced several musical styles such as Berber
music, jazz-blues, occidental, Arabic classical songs ... that marked her atypical career
path.
At the end of the eighties, she abandons architecture and her search for authenticity
leads her to fully concentrate on the Near Eastern Maqam musical tradition. She worked
with different musicians but one major event determined her specialisation in the art of
Arab singing, poetry, composition and improvisation, this is her encounter with Habib
Yammine, the Lebanese percussionist and ethnomusicologist. It is also as a self-taught
artist that Aicha chiselled her formation as a singer and a qanun / table zither player.
The French Ministry of Culture grants her a scholar ship for her musical research.
Habib Yammine holds a master’s degree in ancient Arab rhythms; he is the author of a
doctorate thesis on Yemenite music; he is also editor of articles on the arab world
musics. His studies on musical processes and present practices allowed him to acquire
a sharp knowledge of arab rhythms supported by a perfect technical skill of riqq, daff
and darbuka instruments.
He worked out his proper improvisation style by drawing in the numerous traditional
rhythms from Middle Eastern as well as Maghreb countries, whether popular or subtle.
Habib teaches in the Paris VIII University as well as in the ‘Cité de la Musique’ in Paris.
In 1991, Aicha and Habib founded the ‘Al Adwar’ group, Adwar meaning melodic
rhythmic cycles as well as a refined vocal form and symbolically the eternal come back.
This traditional instrumental formation called ‘takht sharqi’ in the Near East,
accompanies the song and interprets the instrumental repertoire. Their work gives a new
breath to this big tradition that they broadcast by the teaching means and transmit
throughout their concerts, TV and radio programs in France and abroad.
1993 was a turning point in their career with their first success in the Parisian ‘Théâtre
de la Ville’, a first CD produced by Ocora Radio France, crowned by the ‘golden
diapason’ award.
Many talented Arab musicians permanently accompany Aicha and Habib : Egyptian
qanunist Salah el-din Mohamed, Palestinian violinist Safwan Kenani, Tunisian nay / flute
player Nabil Abdmouleh…
Music of the ‘Nahda’
It is in the 19th and beginning 20th century, in Cairo’s palaces, salons, huge residences,
cafes and gardens, that the Maqam art flourished thanks to the support of Khedive
Ismail (1863-1879) and his descendants and to a genious group of singers, composers,
instrumentalists and poets who have provided their best performances for the sake of
music. Abdu al-Hamuli (1845 – 1901) and Mohammad Uthman (1855 – 1900) are
among the most famous; in addition, a whole generation of vocalists and
instrumentalists ensured the existence of this musical art between the end of the 19th
and the first quarter of the 20th century.
This Nahda musical school was built on a rich inheritance, drawing its roots from diverse
Near Eastern cultures, classical, popular and religious. Abdu al-Hamuli and Muhammad
Uthman, pioneers of this art, had the ability to synthesize the multiple musical
expressions in a new stylistic of improvisation and composition that correspond to the
Near Eastern society’s expectations. And if this style became operational, it is mainly
thanks to the Maqam, the musical theory that is common to the region’s cultures. Also,
its growth was part of the global ‘renaissance’ (Nahda) process which was related to
arts, philosophy, religion, politics and society.
Safeguarding and developing this near eastern Arab musical patrimony are Aicha
Redouane’s and Habib Yammine’s mission : their approach inspires those musicians
searching for originality and authenticity. Their action is a school transmitting the art of
Maqam to a big number of musicians and singers coming from different horizons. This
work undertaken by Aicha and Habib gives a new breath through their diverse
improvisations and interpretations. Their action is a revival from the very depth of this
tradition after having solidly assimilated its technical, stylistic and aesthetical assets.
The Maqam stylistic whether vocal or instrumental is a soloist art. In line with the
sheikhs of Nahda, Aicha and her group perpetuated this great tradition making it regain
its ranking on the present musical scenes. In addition, Aicha and Habib initiate and form
singers and instrumentalists to the art of Maqam.
New compositions
In line with the Nahda spirit, Aicha Redouane et Habib Yammine enrich the tradition of
Maqam with new compositions such as ‘Rabia’s Passion’ (sufi poems from Rabi’a al
Adawiya, Iraki poetess, 8th century), ‘Ivresses’ (al khamriyya – tribute to the mystical
wine) of Ibn al Farid (Egypt, 13th century) created for the Parisian “Théâtre de la Ville” in
1998 and 2003; ‘Love is my religion and my faith’ Ibn Arabi, andalusian sufi master –
13th century – created for the Fez Sacred Music Festival , Morocco 2004; and ‘Kan-noun
fi sourat al Rahman (As the nun letter in Rahman Sura) – Palestinian poet Mahmud
Darwish, created for the ‘Le Volcan’ theatre, Le Havre 2006.
International tours and countries
Théâtre de la Ville de Paris, Institut du Monde Arabe de Paris. Haus der Kultur des Welt,
Berlin. Musée des Civilisations à Ottawa, Canada. Symphony Space, Broadway, NewYork. Festival des Musiques Sacrées de Fez, Maroc. Festival d’Art Sacré de Paris.
Auditorium du Louvre à Paris. Palais des Beaux-Arts à Bruxelles. La Monnaie, Opéra
Royal de Bruxelles. Commission Européenne …
Allemagne, Angleterre, Belgique, Espagne, France, Hollande, Italie, Luxembourg,
Suisse, Suède, Canada, USA, Maroc, Jordanie, Abou Dhabi, Qatar.
TV and radio broadcasting
In France :
France Musique, France Culture, France Inter, RFI, RMC Moyen-Orient,
France-Maghreb, … etc.
TV/France 2 :
- « Nuits du Ramadan » avec Frédéric Mitterrand.
- « Le cercle de minuit » avec Michel Field, Laure Adler.
- « Le cercle des arts » avec Frédéric Mitterrand.
- « Musiques au coeur » avec Eve Ruggieri, France 3. ARTE,
Metropolis. RFO-AITV. MBC.
- « Le canal du savoir – La musique classique arabe » (émission
pédagogique de 52’), Paris Première, Arts et Education, 2002.
Abroad :
Radio Canada, TV Suisse, RAI Italienne, Radio Allemagne, Radio
Espagne, TV Algérie, TV Maroc (émission et concert), TV Jordanienne
(émission et concert), TV Abou Dhabi (émission et concert) …
Discography
- CD « Egypte », Aïcha Redouane et l’ensemble Al-Adwâr, Art vocal et instrumental du
Proche-Orient », Ocora Radio France/ Harmonia Mundi, 1993.
- CD « Arabesques vocales », Aïcha Redouane et l’ensemble Al-Adwâr, Institut du
Monde Arabe/Harmonia Mundi, 1996-2000.
- CD « Nahda du Proche-Orient », Aïcha Redouane et l’ensemble Al-Adwâr, Aïcha
Redouane et Habib Yammine/Chant du Monde-Harmonia Mundi, 2002.
- CD “Thurayya-Pléiades”, rythmes arabes du Levant, Habib Yammine/Le Chant du
Monde.
Participation to :
- « Traces de Lumière », Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde, 2004.
Double album collectif, 2 pièces composées par Aïcha Redouane et Habib Yammine,
Buda Musique, 2005.
- « Stabat mater » Bruno Coulais, 3 chants composés par Aïcha Redouane et Habib
Yammine, Festival de Saint-Denis/Naïve, 2005. Films et DVD
- DVD : « Musiques du Monde au Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées », 2004,
Mondomix Média/LGM et le Festival de Fès, Harmonia Mundi.
- « Porquerolles, L’Ile du Jazz », film de Frank Cassenti, Oléo films et Arte, 12/10/2006.
MAIN CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS
2008
Institut du Monde Arabe de Paris, Nancy ATMF Centre Culturel André Malraux - France,
Festival de Fès de la Culture Soufie, Qatar Foundation – Doha – Qatar, Câteauroux –
France.
2007
Colloque CCDH (Conseil Consultatif des Droits de l’Homme) – Rabat – Marroc, Festival
La conférence des oiseaux – Carouge – Suisse, Dijon – France, Les Veillées du
Ramadan, Institut des Cultures d’Islam – Paris, Ministère des Affaires Religieuses –
rabat – Maaroc, Théâtre du Châtelet – Paris, La Centrale – Gand – Belgique.
2006
Théâtre le Volcan, Le Havre, « Mahmoud Darwich une saison en poésie ». World
Economic Forum on the Middle East, Sharm El Sheikh, « Harmony and Tolerance in a
Modern World ». Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venise. La Monnaie, Opéra Royal de
Bruxelles. Festival « Jazz à Porquerolles », île de Porquerolles. Emission « Chadha alalhân » 2M, TV Maroc. 18es Rencontres Chants Polyphoniques de Calvi, Corse.
2005
Commision Européenne, Bruxelles, Palais des Beaux-arts. Festival International de la
Voix, Communauté Européenne, Londres, 26 février. Maison de Radio Flagey,
Bruxelles, 5 mars. Festival de Saint Denis, Ile de France.
2004
Tournée en France. 9èmes rencontres méditerranéennes sur le soufisme, Sagesses
d’Islam, Marseille. Festival des Musiques Sacrées du Monde, Fès. Les musiques de
l’Islam au Louvre, Auditorium du Louvre. Théâtre Alhambra, Genève, octobre.
2003
Théâtre de la Ville de Paris. Institut du Monde Arabe, 4ème Festival franco-arabe de
poésie, mars, et 4ème Festival de Musique Arabe. Récital enregistré par Radio France à
la salle Olivier Messian de la Maison de la Radio, Paris.
2000-2002
Musée des Civilisations, Ottawa, Canada. WMI, Symphony Space, Broadway, NewYork, USA. Ier Festival de Musique Arabe à l’Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris. Festival
International de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, Espagne. Florence, Italie. Théâtre de la
Ville de Paris (2001). Teatro del Corte, Gênes (2002). Vis Musicae, Il Parco Sonoro Tra i
Due Mari, Festival International du patrimoine musical et naturel de la Méditerranée,
Calabre, Italie.
Ensemble Al-Adwâr
Aïcha Redouane : vocal and composing
Habib Yammine : percussion, composing and choir
Salah el-Din Mohammad : qânûn (zither) and choir
Safwan Kenani : kamân (violin) and choir
Nabil Abdemouleh : nây (flute) and choir