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NTS Guide to: Moorish Music Of Mauritania

Nouakchott, 28.02.24

The music of Mauritania comes predominantly from the country’s largest ethnic group: the Moors. The music is produced using traditional instruments which include an hourglass-shaped four-stringed lute called the tidinit and the ardin, a harp which is exclusively played by women.

The music conforms to 3 different ways; Al-bayda (The White Way), Al-kahla (The Black Way) and L’-gnaydiya (The Spotted Way). There are then 5 different modes; Karr (Youth), Fagu (beginning of the age of virility), Le-Khal (Maturity), Le-Byadh (Maturity) & Le-Btayt (Old Age). They also convey a series of feelings ranging from joy to sadness.

Elements which are purely musical differentiate these modes, such as an accent or a series of different harmonies. Male players must respect the aforementioned ways, female players playing the Ardin do not need to be so precise as the instrument conveys all 3 ways so only the modes are contrasted.

Tracklist

  • MAHJOUBA MENT LMEIDAH
    محجوبة منت الميدا
  • Ahmed Well Dandanni (Tidinit Lute)
    Black Way
  • El-Hamal Ment Dandanni
    Mode Le-Kahl
  • El-Hamal Ment Dandanni
    Mode Karr
  • Griots Of The Emir Of Tagant
    Vagho
  • Aïcha Mint Chighaly 
    Mode Byad Le-btayt
  • Aïcha Mint Chighaly
    Mode Byad Karr
  • Coumbane Mint Ely Warakane 
    Mode Le-Byadh
  • Khalifa Ould Eide, Dimi Mint Abba 
    Yar Allahoo
  • Khalifa Ould Eide, Dimi Mint Abba 
    Waidalal Waidalal
  • Ooleya Mint Amartichitt 
    Wezene