Reinette L'Oranaise
Encyclopedia
Reinette l'Oranaise was an Algerian singer, who helped preserve Arab-Andalus music
, as well as introducing the genre to European audiences.
She was born in Tiaret, a largely bedouin
town, the daughter of a Moroccan Rabbi. Being blind as a result of smallpox
when two years old, she studied at a school for the blind in Algiers
, until her mother encouraged her to take up music. She studied with Saoud l'Oranais, who gave her the nickname Reinette l'Oranaise ("Queenie from Oran
"). From him she learned to play several instruments, and learned a great many traditional songs in the Arab-Andalus and Raï
styles. They moved to Paris
in 1938, but at his suggestion she soon returned to Algeria. There she joined the orchestra of Meriem Fekkai, until Algerian independence ended her career - she had been opposed to independence. Unable to find work in her home country, she returned to France, playing in restaurants and private parties for the North African Jewish community in Paris.
In the 1980s the increased interest in "World Music
" brought her to the media's attention, and she was once again able to perform to large audiences. She sang in Arabic and ladino
and was a highly respected chaabi performer, performing with even Cheik El Haj Mohammed El Anka, who made over 130 lps. Even though she was Jewish, she was very loved by Oran's Muslim population and left a rich chaabi legacy.
Her recording of the song "Qum Tara" was used in the film A la Place du Couer (1998)
Andalusian classical music
Andalusian classical music is a style of Moorish music found across North Africa in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It originates out of the music of Al-Andalus between the 9th and 15th centuries....
, as well as introducing the genre to European audiences.
She was born in Tiaret, a largely bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
town, the daughter of a Moroccan Rabbi. Being blind as a result of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
when two years old, she studied at a school for the blind in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, until her mother encouraged her to take up music. She studied with Saoud l'Oranais, who gave her the nickname Reinette l'Oranaise ("Queenie from Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
"). From him she learned to play several instruments, and learned a great many traditional songs in the Arab-Andalus and Raï
Raï
Raï is a form of folk music that originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s....
styles. They moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1938, but at his suggestion she soon returned to Algeria. There she joined the orchestra of Meriem Fekkai, until Algerian independence ended her career - she had been opposed to independence. Unable to find work in her home country, she returned to France, playing in restaurants and private parties for the North African Jewish community in Paris.
In the 1980s the increased interest in "World Music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
" brought her to the media's attention, and she was once again able to perform to large audiences. She sang in Arabic and ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
and was a highly respected chaabi performer, performing with even Cheik El Haj Mohammed El Anka, who made over 130 lps. Even though she was Jewish, she was very loved by Oran's Muslim population and left a rich chaabi legacy.
Discography
- Jewish Arab Song Treasures (2006) (AKA Trésors de la Chanson Judéo-Arabe)
- Mémoires (2001)
Her recording of the song "Qum Tara" was used in the film A la Place du Couer (1998)