Andalusian Music: A Story: Traditions and Narratives Throughout a Diaspora

Andalusian music is performed today all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Why? There is not one kind of music that we can characterize as being from al-Andalus. Jewish and Christian peoples had musical traditions before the arrival of the Muslims, who brought along musicians from the East. There was reciprocal influence between traditions, but likely there remained separate identities to a certain extent. From the 15th century, great numbers of Jews, Muslims, or converted people were forced in different installments to leave the Iberian Peninsula. These people brought along elements of their home culture to their new destinations. This forms the basis for most contemporary traditions of Andalusian music. These traditions and their different claims on the identity and purpose of the music, provide telling insights into the narratives on Andalusian music of today. For this reason, I discuss a handful of primary sources, discussing either performances of Andalusian music or ensembles...Show moreAndalusian music is performed today all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Why? There is not one kind of music that we can characterize as being from al-Andalus. Jewish and Christian peoples had musical traditions before the arrival of the Muslims, who brought along musicians from the East. There was reciprocal influence between traditions, but likely there remained separate identities to a certain extent. From the 15th century, great numbers of Jews, Muslims, or converted people were forced in different installments to leave the Iberian Peninsula. These people brought along elements of their home culture to their new destinations. This forms the basis for most contemporary traditions of Andalusian music. These traditions and their different claims on the identity and purpose of the music, provide telling insights into the narratives on Andalusian music of today. For this reason, I discuss a handful of primary sources, discussing either performances of Andalusian music or ensembles of Andalusian music. Three main narratives emerge, the first being the Islamic Golden Age narrative. It looks back on Al-Andalus as the highpoint of Islamic civilization and culture, and Andalusian music then is instrumentalized as a nostalgic tool and symbol of the ‘ideal’ al-Andalus. The second narrative is that of local heritage. This narrative focusses on the locally cultivated traditions of Andalusian music, that have both a stark regional identity and its own claim to al-Andalus and a certain authenticity. The last main narrative observed is that centered on the European Convivencia ideal, full of nostalgia for a time of peaceful tolerance and collaboration between ‘the three religions’.Show less

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Andalusian Music: A Story: Traditions and Narratives Throughout a Diaspora