Nûba d’or et de la lumière

In this music film, Izza Génini, ‘grande dame’ of the Moroccan documentary, investigates the history of the nûba. The Arab-Andalusian music had its origins 14 centuries ago in Andalucia. It found its way to North Africa and became known in Morocco as El Ala. Based on orchestral performances, music connoisseurs, historians and a weaver from Fez, Génini guides us into the world of this age old music.
Originally there were 24 nûbas, composed to match the hours of the day. Now there are 11 left, brought back from oblivion in the eighteenth century by El Haik of Tetouan. He wrote them down in a book that has become the bible for lovers of the nûba. The dawn, the evening and the night are the most important elements in this form of music to inspire the musicians and poets. The musical form is scientific and follows musical and poetic rules with great precision. Young and old play in the orchestras. The music is performed by voices, violins, lutes and a ‘rabab’ and has a trance-like effect.
With great love and attention, Génini records various performances during music festivals in Fez, Tangiers and Rabat, and it is especially striking how enthusiastically and intensely the audience experiences this music. Nûba of Gold and Light is an exuberant illustration of the vitality of this music form, not only within the borders of Morocco but also beyond.