After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, last year, the Marrakech earthquake. the Festival of World Sacred Music is set to return for its 27th edition, taking place in Fez, Morocco, from May 24th to June 1st, 2024, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
This year’s festival promises to be a spectacular celebration of spiritual diversity, featuring a wide range of sacred and spiritual music from around the world with the theme of The Quest for the Al-Andalus Spirit. This will focus on the peaceful coexistence between the Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism during the Andalusian “Golden Age” from the early eighth century until the end of the thirteenth century. Today, the Kingdom of Morocco still stands as a shining example to the world of religious tolerance, understanding, and mutual respect.
A Rich History of Cultural Exchange.
Fez, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco during the time of Al-Andalus and continuing to be so today, has a rich history of cultural exchange and the encouragement of intellectual pursuits. For centuries, it has been a centre for the meeting of minds and the sharing of ideas and knowledge, attracting philosophers, scientists, scholars, artists, and religious men and women from all across the globe. The city’s heritage is reflected in its architecture, with the imposing Bab Al Makina, the beautiful Jnan Sbil gardens, and the more intimate, family-run Dar Tazi serving as stunning backdrops for the festival’s events.
Celebrating the Sacred Through Music.
The festival is a celebration of the sacred and holy through music, dance, and poetry, featuring performances by renowned artists from around the world. Past performers have included Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Bjork, Ravi Shankar, and Youssou N’Dour, among many others. The festival’s artistic director has also been instrumental in producing extraordinary, multidisciplinary creations which are presented at the opening of the festival.
This year’s Creation is “Zyriab or the Fifth String”, which is a journey through the sources of inspiration for Andalusian music, between heaven and earth, mountains and palaces, all presented through music, dance, and acting. The performers in this saga are gathered from Armenia, India, Iran, Italy, Egypt, France, Spain, Syria, Uzbekistan and Morocco.
This unmissable performance will be taking place on May 24th at 9 pm at Bab Al Makina. Admission is 600 Dhs.
A Platform for Unknown Talent.
The festival not only showcases established artists but also provides a platform for lesser-known or unknown talent to be discovered. It prides itself on being a nursery for daring projects, freshly born from the imagination of adventurous musicians and poets. This year’s festival promises to be no exception, with diverse artistic performances, original creations, the ever-popular Sufi nights, and over 60 concerts and shows. The festival is keen to promote new homegrown and international talent.
The Spirit of Fez: A Global Phenomenon.
The festival has also spawned an international network for support and advertising, with the Spirit of Fez Inc. established in the United States in 2006. This network disseminates a musical program and a program of the forum throughout twenty cities, including New York at its famous Carnegie Hall. The spread of the “spirit of Fez” continues to inspire the creation of similar events and mobilizes up to 100,000 locals and international visitors who come to celebrate it.
A Message of Peace and Understanding.
The festival’s message of peace and understanding through music and the promotion of collaboration contributes to developing a more tolerant and open society. It is a testament to music’s power to unite people and transcend cultural and religious differences and boundaries. The festival’s theme this year, “The Quest for the Al-Andalus Spirit“, provides a unique opportunity for festival-goers to discover how women and men of all faiths have been influenced by the reach and historical impact of Al-Andalus, not only in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco but the wider Mediterranean basin for over twelve centuries.
A Unifying Event
Under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music and its Forum, which were set up in 1994 and 2001 respectively, come within the scholarly, artistic, and spiritual tradition of the city of Fez. The festival has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the most outstanding events that contributes to the dialogue between nations, religions, and cultures. It is a unifying event that brings together artists of world fame, newcomers, and a varied audience from all walks of life, sharing their quest for the sacred.
PROGRAM 2024:
Friday, May 24th
Creation – Zyriab or the Fifth String.
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price: 600 MAD
Details: Zyriab or the Fifth String”, is a journey through the sources of inspiration for Andalusian music, between heaven and earth, mountains and palaces, all presented through music, dance, and acting. The performers in this saga are gathered from Armenia, India, Iran, Italy, Egypt, France, Spain, Syria, Uzbekistan and Morocco.
Zyriab – “The Blackbird” is a flamboyant Kurdish prince, a legendary character said to have introduced the fifth string to the oud; the traditional Arab, short-necked, pear-shaped, lute-like musical instrument still used today across the Arab world.
Saturday, May 25th
Forum: The Quest for The Spirit of Al-Andalus
- Time: 09:00 to 13:30
- Location: Hotel Palais Medina
- Price: Free
Details: Speakers give lectures on the contradictory subjects of Universalism in the spirit of Al-Andalus and Humanism in the spirit of Al-Andalus. The event is split into two halves with a coffee break in between. Each half of the talks concludes with discussion and debate.
Madalena
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD.
Details: Madalena is the Women’s Choir of the Occitan Countries under the direction of Manu Theron. The twenty-three women of the choir will perform “The Cantilena of Sancta Maria Magdalena”, thought lost for over two centuries. The Occitan countries include France, Italy, Spain and Monaco.
Sami Yusuf in Concert
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price: 600 MAD
Details: Sami was born in Iran to Azerbaijani parents but grew up in the UK and is a British citizen. He is a famous singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer whose work blends different styles including Sufism folk and rock in a spiritual manner addressing humanitarian social, and religious issues.
Vincent Moon – A Cinematographic Ritual
- Time: 23:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Vincent Moon delivers a new approach to the spiritual. The Parisien filmmaker, sound artist, and photographer presents a new combination of sacred film and music with each performance being unique. Film images accompany the music each time creating a palpable spiritual energy.
Sunday, May 26th
Naissam Jalal – Healing Rituals
- Time 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Naissam Jalal is a Syrian flutist, composer, and vocalist and is accompanied by cello, double bass, and drums as she almost whispers healing rituals in melody to cure ailments.
Creation – Yatra – Safar
- Time: 21;00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price 500 MAD
Details: Centred around Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt the master of the bluesy Indian guitar, and Justin Adams, the great English guitarist of all genres, are the spiritual sounds of the Sufi voices of Desert Slide, Cherifa Kersit, the Divana Ensemble of Rajasthan, Anwar Khan Manganiyar and the rhythmic drum beats of the Hamadcha Brotherhood of Fes. Unique power and spirituality are the result.
Sufi Night
- Time: 23:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: Inv.
Details: The first of the ever-popular Sufi nights Chanting, dancing and music combine to produce a powerful spiritual energy.
Monday, May 27th
Crystal Winds
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: A fusion of the bansuri flute and the incredible Cristal Baschet, a series of glass rods caressed with the fingers to produce an ethereal sound, this Indian duo is a delight to listen to.
Khadija El Afrit/ Ensemble Musiqat from Tunisia – Istikhbar
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: “Khadija the Demon” performs the Istikhbar; a new version of Tunisian manuscripts found in 1872.
Sufi Night
- Time: 23:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: Inv.
Details: The second of three Sufi Nights, they always have a packed audience, so get there early for this magical performance from the mystical Sufi Brotherhood.
Tuesday, May 28th
Flute J. Jayant – The Art of Carnatic Flute
- Time: 11:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: From southern India, J. “Flute Jayant” has a virtuoso and unique method of breath control and fingering of the bamboo flute and double bass flute playing Indian classical music. Delightful.
Trio Three Lines
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Playing a variety of flutes, this French threesome produces enchanting sounds.
Traversees
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: A fusion of African and Persian music with Griot lyrics and Sufi poetry, Traversees are comprised of musicians from the East and West, the Constantinople Trio, and Ablaye Cissoko.
Sufi Night
- Time:23:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: Inv.
Details: The last of the three much-loved Sufi nights, many will attend all three as each performance is unique.
Wednesday, May 29th
Les Harmoniques Du Ciel
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: The Harmony of the Sky are two Chinese musicians, experts on ancient instruments. Wang Li plays copper and bamboo harps and gourd flutes while Wu Wei uses the Chinese violin and mouth organ. The two combine to produce an unforgettable sound.
Scuola Cantorum Basilensis – Swiss
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Teachers and their students from the famous music school in Basel, Switzerland present European religious and spiritual music and song from the Middle Ages of France, Italy, Switzerland, and Poland utilising traditional instruments.
Thursday, May 30th
Galician Musical Roots.
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: A trio presenting the ancient power of Galician musical traditions from Spain, the Spaniards Fransy, Davide, and Cibran, are joined by the popular Amazigh (Berber) singer Charifa Kersit.
Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolese Performed by the Young Musicians European Orchestra.
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price: 500 MAD
Details: This Young Musicians symphony is conducted and directed by Maestro Paolo Olmi in the presence of H.E. The Ambassador to Italy in Morocco, Armando Barucco. The Stabat Mater Concert has been designed by The Italian Cultural Insitute of Rabat and The Italian National Music Committee.
The Duoud and Mahmoud Goma Tribes.
- Time: 23:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: The Franco-Algerian Mehdi Haddab and the Tunisian Smadj create psychedelic sounds on the oud which is combined with Mahmoud Goma’s kaff saidi from Upper Egypt, Kaff saidi is a fusion of Bedouin and Nubian music and has a very distinct flavour.
Friday, May 31st
Treibhorn – Switzerland
- Time 15:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Traditional Swiss Alphorn Music with the cortenor Alphorn and the trombone Alphorn accompanied by piano, double bass, and drums and joined for a guest appearance by the famous yodeller Franzisker Wigger. A genuine feeling of Alpine mountain air is the result.
Asif Ali Khan, Master of Qawwali
- Time: 18:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price: 200 MAD
Details: Using speech and singing in the Qawwali fashion, Asif Ali Khan invites the audience to be part of the Sufi spiritualism of India and Pakistan.
Vicente Amigo – The Master of Cordoba on the Flamenco Guitar.
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price: 600 MAD
Details: The world-famous Flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo is joined by his usual excellent session musicians and the flamenco dancer “El Choro”, Antonio Molina Redondo to perform their Andalusian-inspired repertoire.
Saturday, June 1st
Romances – Accademia Del Piacere and The Artean Ensemble
- Time: 17:00
- Location: Jardin Jnan Sbil
- Price 200 MAD
Details: One of the most prestigious early music ensembles in Spain and Europe, led by the talented Fahmi Alghai, who will have by his side Ghalia Benali, singer, composer, and actress, capable of expressing her art through a multitude of expressions, ranging from baroque to early music, from Oum Kalthoum to Sufi poetry or Indian music. A range of music influenced by persecuted gypsies and the last of the Moors in Spain is performed to an enraptured audience.
Gospel Philharmonic Experience with Kim Burrell & The Contemporary Orchestral Ensemble.
- Time: 21:00
- Location: Bab Al Makina
- Price: 600 MAD
Details: The Fes Festival of World Sacred Music concludes with a very special performance. Conceived and directed by the conductor Pascal Horecka, this world-unique project offers a universal gospel. In an unlikely fusion of Western classical music and the voices of a sacred, black, and inspired America. A group of fifty artists will magnify this vocal art around the great diva Kim Burrell, famous in the USA and beyond for singing with Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, and Whitney Houston.
DISCLAIMER: All details are accurate at the time of going to press. Changes may be made. Other artists may also be added to the program.
Conclusion
The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music 2024 promises to be a spectacular celebration of spiritual diversity, featuring a wide range of sacred and spiritual music from around the world. It is a testament to the power of music to bring people together and transcend cultural and religious differences. The festival’s message of peace and understanding through music contributes to the development of a more tolerant and open society and a harmonious world.
Read also: Summer Festivals in Morocco 2024
