Abdessadeq Cheqara
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Abdessadeq Cheqara, (1931-October 31, 1998) (in Arabic: عبد الصادق شقارة), was a Moroccan singer of traditional Andalusian classical music and Moroccan folk music . Known as the grand master of al-Ala (Andalusian music), he was also a violin and oud virtuoso.
Cheqara sang Tétouan Andalusian and traditional Moroccan folksongs in mawawil (improvised solo), inshad (solo) styles, and his band was famous for their live instrumental improvisation (taqsim). Many of his songs were based on poetry and folklore passed through families in Tétouan.
He was born in Tétouan, Morocco, a city noted for its Andalusian influences. His father, Abdessalam Cheqara, was a famed singer and musician in Tétouan. His mother, Assoudia Alharrak, was descended of a family of poets, musicians and philosophers.
From a young age, Cheqara was drawn to music and poetry, being influenced by his father, who gave him his first oud. Cheqara was also influenced by the Zawia Al-Harraqiya sufi movement, which practises devotion to Allah through the performance of Andalusian music. By the age of fourteen, Cheqara already performed in a band, meeting Abdessalam Allouch, who taught him malhoun (the Arabic art of sung poetry).
In the 1940s, Cheqara travelled extensively in Morocco, performing with noted Moroccan musicians.
In 1940, along with other noted Moroccan musicians, he petitioned the Kalifa Mulay Hassan Ben Mahdi for a conservatorium for Morocco’s Andalusian musical heritage. The conservatorium was founded as the Hasani Conservatory of the Moroccan Music. After several name and location changes, the National Conservatory of Music and Dance was opened by King Muhammad V on May 26, 1957.
Also in 1957, Cheqara – along with several friends – founded the Tétouan Conservatory Orchestra, to conserve and perform the music of Tétouan and Morocco. Later, Cheqara founded the Cheqara Orchestra of Tétuan (also Chekara Orchestra of Tétuan; in Spanish: Orquesta Chekara de Tetuán), which continues to perform Andalusian music under the guidance of Jallal Cheqara, Abdessadeq's nephew.
Other notable achievements include:
- In 1961, Cheqara recorded eight nawbas of Andalusian Music in association with UNESCO's Andalusian Music Fans Association – an initiative to preserve the Andalusian heritage of Morocco.
- In 1978, Cheqara was appointed Supervisor General of the National Conservatory.
- In 1982, Cheqara met Professor Jose Heredia in Grenada, Spain, and collaborated to produce one of his most famous songs, Bent Bladi, a combination of Tétouani music and flamenco.
- In 1991, Cheqara collaborated with British-Jewish pianist Michael Nyman, releasing a CD titled "The Upside-Down Violin" (1992). The CD was recorded live at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville.
Abdessadeq died on October 31, 1998, after a prolonged illness. His son Nourredine and nephew Jallal Cheqara continue his legacy through the orchestra he founded, and by teaching at the Tétouan Conservatory of Music. Noureddine has been a professor of Andalusian music at the Tétouan Conservatory of Music since 1983.
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His first name is also written Abd el Saddeq, Abdessadek, Abdesaddek, and many other variations. His surname is variously spelt Chekara, Cheqara, Chqara, Sheqara, Shekara, Shkara, and variations thereof.
