In the song Moroccan Melody, from the Ordinary Time FALL CD, we hear a traditional Moroccan tune performed with Tar and Oud (pronounced "ood" as in "mood"). Morocco is a country in North Africa. It is just a little larger than California. It is very hot and sunny there. Most of the people in Morocco practice the Muslim religion, but about 30,000 Catholics live their faith in Morocco. There is beautiful art and music in Morocco.
The music sounds similar to the music of the Middle East and the rest of Northern Africa, because they play the same kind of instruments and have a similar history. Jesus would have heard instruments very much like these when He lived in Israel 2,000 years ago. Many different kinds of drums, flutes and stringed instruments are used in Morocco. You may recognize a guitar or violin which are familiar to us along with lovely hand drums like the dumbek or tar. You can learn about the tar on the World Instruments Page. The dumbek is a goblet-shaped drum made from clay or metal.
The picture below shows a rebab, a more traditional stringed instrument. Do you see why Moroccan musicians have come to love the violin?
There are several different kinds of traditional music in Morocco, because many different cultures have lived in Morocco over the years. Jewish, South African, Arabic, and European people have all brought their traditions to the country of Morocco. Moroccan culture is famous for complicated and colorful food, buildings, clothes and art. The music is also rich and full of variety. Many kinds of instruments and styles come together to make Moroccan music.
These wonderful photos are courtesy of Galen Frysinger who maintains a really great travel website on which families can learn much more about Moroccan music and cultures all over the world!
