Sheikh Hamada
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Hamada is an Algerian singer, a native of Blad Touahria near Mostaganem
, he was born in 1889 and died April 9, 1968.
He is one of the founders of the gasba music
.
In fact, Sheikh Hamada’s voice will remain the eternal Bedouin
voice. It is part of the musical ferment of the inter-war period (since the fate of Algeria was linked with France's which was recovering from the First World War.) This poet was engaged in the none modernization of the Traditional Bedouin, and he will always remain a major phenomenon in North African music.
and the musical traditions not only in North Africa but in modern music today. He succeeded in a magisterial way to brush-up urban poetry with his Hadri, Haouz and Aroub compositions.
He revised the gasba music
which influenced the area of Dahra
, thus providing a large influence to the chaâbi music
repertoire which is one of the most popular musical genres in North Africa today. It is still used in traditional celebrations, with music resulting from the arabo-Andalusian culture, which comes under his Bedouin
rule.
Many Europeans at the time, laughed openly (even today) at this music type because it was modal and not tonal, Béla Bartók
was extremely touched by the artist on a two year trip to Algeria (1913–1915), which inspired several pieces.
He made his first recording in 1920, and continued to record in Algeria, Paris and Berlin, until his death.
This poet, musician and singer is also father of two sons killed during the colonial war of The Algerian National Liberation Front
from 1954 to 1962.
. He also promoted the music based on ancient Bedouin
poetry and harmonic Arab-Jewish by bringing the countryside and the city together. It has broadened the movement throughout Algeria and across borders.
Mostaganem
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
, he was born in 1889 and died April 9, 1968.
He is one of the founders of the gasba music
Gasba music
The gasba or tamja is a musical style based of wind instrument, widespread in Tunisia and Algeria, among Chawis of north-east Algeria, and Oran in the northwest, but also in Morocco, in the eastern Rif.-External links:* *...
.
In fact, Sheikh Hamada’s voice will remain the eternal 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:...
voice. It is part of the musical ferment of the inter-war period (since the fate of Algeria was linked with France's which was recovering from the First World War.) This poet was engaged in the none modernization of the Traditional Bedouin, and he will always remain a major phenomenon in North African music.
Life Time Accomplishments
During his lifetime, he alone revolutionized the bedouinBedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
and the musical traditions not only in North Africa but in modern music today. He succeeded in a magisterial way to brush-up urban poetry with his Hadri, Haouz and Aroub compositions.
He revised the gasba music
Gasba music
The gasba or tamja is a musical style based of wind instrument, widespread in Tunisia and Algeria, among Chawis of north-east Algeria, and Oran in the northwest, but also in Morocco, in the eastern Rif.-External links:* *...
which influenced the area of Dahra
Dahra, Algeria
Dahra, Algeria is a town and commune in Chlef Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 21,284....
, thus providing a large influence to the chaâbi music
Chaabi (music)
Chaabi , also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii, refers to two different Music genres in North Africa :*Moroccan chaabi*Algerian chaabi...
repertoire which is one of the most popular musical genres in North Africa today. It is still used in traditional celebrations, with music resulting from the arabo-Andalusian culture, which comes under his 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:...
rule.
Many Europeans at the time, laughed openly (even today) at this music type because it was modal and not tonal, Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
was extremely touched by the artist on a two year trip to Algeria (1913–1915), which inspired several pieces.
He made his first recording in 1920, and continued to record in Algeria, Paris and Berlin, until his death.
This poet, musician and singer is also father of two sons killed during the colonial war of The Algerian National Liberation Front
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
from 1954 to 1962.
Teacher and Mentor
He was also a mentor, his friend Hadj El Anka, was an Algerian artist who looked up to him, they met at outings with philosophical poets and musicians where they worked together on qaçayds (poems ). Sheikh Hamada is also a teacher for the younger generations. He welcomed into his house several artists like Maâzouz Bouadjadj, teaching, sometimes for hours, a tone, a stanza, the hidden meaning of a word, a verse, a qasidaQasida
The qaṣīdaᵗ , in Arabic: قصيدة, plural qasā'id, قــصــائـد; in Persian: قصیده , is a form of lyric poetry that originated in preIslamic Arabia...
. He also promoted the music based on ancient 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:...
poetry and harmonic Arab-Jewish by bringing the countryside and the city together. It has broadened the movement throughout Algeria and across borders.