Orchestra of Fes
**Caravanserai tour across US Midwest concludes as Orchestra of Fes musicians from Morocco come to Grand Rapids, Minnesota**
Grand Rapids Herald-Review, by Nathan Bergstedt (April 27, 2013) — From the beginning of the tour last fall, the musical cultural connection of Caravanserai will be coming to a close this next week as the musicians of the Orchestra of Fes in Morocco come to Grand Rapids to share the world of Andalusian music with audiences in the United States.
The name Caravanserai is taken from the roadside safe havens of the old Middle East where travelers would rest for the night, meeting with fellow travelers so as to share the news of the world, as well as their arts and customs with one another. Considering that this tour is the first taste of American culture for many of the artists involved, the term is fitting since they will be learning about our arts and customs as well as they sharing theirs. In fact, after the members of the orchestra arrive on April 28, they will be treated to a concert of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which will be performing at the Reif Center.
Andalusian music is at the center of contemporary Moroccan culture, and is entrenched in the history of the land, borrowing from the artistic traditions of North Africa, Spanish Muslims, as well as Jewish. A classical style of music, it subtly tells the history of the country and its people by means of its influences.
“This style of music has probably one of the longest musical and cultural traditions in Morocco,” said Reif Marketing Director Katie Benes.
An interesting aspect of the first group of musicians who came to Grand Rapids from Morocco last fall was the instruments they played. Most Western-culture music lovers aren’t all that familiar with the guembri or the oud, so the performances and workshops by the Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble were very educational in terms of the larger world of music. The Orchestra of Fes, though, makes full use of both violins and cellos, as well as an assortment of less familiar instruments. In addition to the now recognizable oud, the orchestra will be using the taar and the derbouka, which are both small, hand-held drums of different notable shapes.
Throughout the week, starting on Monday, April 29, the orchestra will be conducting a number of workshops and concerts in the area, including shows at both Virginia and Hibbing public libraries. In Grand Rapids, they will be meeting with students at the high school and with the Itasca Symphony Orchestra and Strings Program, and there will be a day-time performance on Friday, May 3, for area students.
The Orchestra of Fes, which is part of the Caravanserai tour created by Arts Midwest, will be at the Reif Center on Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $8 for students, and are available at the Reif box office, Reed Drug, by phone at 218-327-5780, and online at www.reifcenter.org.
