Andalusian Classical Music

Andalusian classical music (tarab al-andalusi) is the art music preserved in North Africa from the tradition of Muslim al-Andalus: suites called nuba (in Morocco), san'a (Algiers) or malouf (Tunis and Constantine), each assembling vocal and instrumental movements in one mode over a full performance cycle. Poetry in classical Arabic and Andalusi dialect is sung by a chorus with soloists, accompanied by oud, rabab, violin, qanun and hand percussion. The Moroccan school of Fez, carried by *Haj Abdelkrim Raïs* and the *Orchestre Al-Brihi*, and Algeria's masters such as *Cheikh Raymond* anchor the modern tradition.