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Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
From Basel to Fez: Swiss Ambassador's Ode to Cultural Kinship Through Sacred Music
Fez – In the historic city of Fez, where ancient medina walls whisper centuries of cultural exchange, Swiss Ambassador to Morocco Valentin Zellweger found himself particularly moved during the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival. As the crystalline harmonies of Renaissance polyphony filled the air, the ambassador saw more than just a musical performance – he witnessed the living embodiment of cultural diplomacy. In an exclusive interview at the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival, Ambassador Zellweger reflected on the deep historical ties between the two countries. 'Well, first of all, it's an old relationship, if I may say,' he began. 'It's more than 100 years old and it's getting better and better. I would say today it's a very close friendship. We have a lot of exchanges and a lot of common interests. So it's a very positive view of our bilateral relations.' The ambassador noted the unique role of cultural exchange in strengthening international connections. 'Well, you know, culture is a very important ingredient. Of course, our relations are commercial, economic, they are political, they are social. There are many Moroccans living in Switzerland and culture is the one thing that glues everything together,' Zellweger explained. He elaborated on the power of cultural expression: 'And in culture, you can bring things to. You can express things that I think are difficult to be said or expressed in other ways. So culture is a very important ingredient for our relationship.' Of Switzerland's participation in the festival, Zellweger shared: 'I give you the example of this evening's concert. The topic or the theme of this festival is the Renaissance. And there will be a Swiss group from a very prestigious musical school singing songs from the Renaissance. So it will be the Swiss perspective on the topic chosen by the organizers of this festival.' Drawing parallels between the two countries, the ambassador noted: 'I see a fundamental similarity between Morocco and Switzerland. Morocco is at the crossroads of cultures, of religions, also geographically speaking. And the same goes for Switzerland. Although we're at the heart of Europe, we are composed of a German part of our culture, a French part, an Italian part. And I think what unites Morocco and Switzerland is this sense of finding an equilibrium.' With visible enthusiasm, Zellweger shared his personal connection to the event. 'Am I excited?' he asked. 'Of course I'm excited. No, this is a fantastic opportunity and for me it's a particular pleasure. The musicians, the school that will be present this evening since it is my hometown represented tonight.' The ambassador's personal connection to the performance added a special dimension to the evening. The performing ensemble, Zenaida, hails from Basel's prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis – Zellweger's hometown. The young but accomplished group, formed just last year by international students in the Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies (AVES) program, brought a carefully curated selection of Franco-Flemish sacred music to Moroccan audiences. Zenaida's program featured masterworks by Renaissance composers Josquin Desprez and Pierre de la Rue, including Desprez's contemplative 'Gaude virgo' and La Rue's majestic 'Credo (Missa cum jocunditate).' The ensemble's innovative approach to these centuries-old compositions – blending traditional Gregorian influences with fresh polyphonic interpretations – created a musical dialogue that transcended time and geography. From Swiss concert halls to Moroccan nights Though newly formed, Zenaida has already established itself as a rising star in early music circles. Their emotional debut performance of 'Lamentation' at the Erasmus Klingt Festival under Björn Schmelzer's direction showcased their ability to breathe new life into ancient musical forms. The ambassador's remarks at the Fez World Sacred Music Festival point to the bond between Morocco and Switzerland. As the two countries celebrate over a century of diplomatic relations, cultural exchanges like this festival performance prove that their partnership is evolving beyond traditional political and economic ties into something deeper and more resonant. The presence of Swiss musicians in Fez, interpreting Renaissance melodies for Moroccan audiences, demonstrates how culture serves as a dynamic bridge between the two countries. Just as Morocco thrives at the crossroads of civilizations and Switzerland harmonizes its multilingual heritage, their collaboration at this festival reflects a shared commitment to dialogue, understanding, and mutual appreciation. Initiatives like the Fez Sacred Music Festival reinforce this connection with each passing year, ensuring that the relationship between Morocco and Switzerland does not merely endure, but flourishes.
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Echoes of the Sacred: Diverse Musical Worlds Converge at Jnan Sbil
Fez – At the heart of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival's 28th edition, the tranquil gardens of Jnan Sbil became the stage for a powerful evening of musical devotion. From the mystical traditions of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to the refined harmonies of Renaissance Europe and the ecstatic rhythms of Morocco's own Aissawa, each performance depicted a distinct path to the divine. Mugham of Azerbaijan: a prayer in melody As the sun dipped behind the city walls, Sahib Pashazade took his place with the tar resting gently against his chest, joined by Kamran Kerimov and the deep pulse of the nagara. What followed was not merely a concert, it was a ceremony. Mugham, often called 'music sent by God,' carries centuries of spiritual weight. Its roots lie in ancient oral traditions, shaped by Quranic recitations and even older hymns. The duo performed with a quiet intensity, each note of the tar threading through the night like sacred poetry, while the nagara offered grounding, heartbeat-like rhythms. As the music rose and fell, the audience fell silent, almost in collective meditation. Kazakh Bards: voices of the Steppe and the spirit When Ulzhan Baibussynova stood before the crowd with her dombra in hand, a different kind of sacred space emerged. It was shaped by wind, vastness, and ancestral memory. A respected zhyrau and one of the few women to practice this tradition, Baibussynova brought a rare voice to Fez, earthy, commanding, deeply human. With Aigerim Shuster weaving deep tones from the kobyz and delicate lines from the zhetygen, the trio summoned the spirit of the Kazakh steppe. The music carried stories of warriors, of poets, of the sacred bond between nomads and nature. The guttural timbre of the vocals seemed to speak across time, calling the spirits of the aruakh into the present. 'This festival holds special significance as a global platform for sacred music traditions,' Baibussynova told Morocco World News (MWN). 'For Kazakh people, our musical heritage is sacred – it's how we preserve our history and connect generations.' The award-winning performer, who began her musical training at just three years old, specializes in khoomei (throat singing) and the two-stringed dombra lute – both recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 'These arts were passed to me through the ustaz-shakirt tradition, the sacred bond between master and apprentice,' she explained. 'Tonight I performed an ancient epic song exactly as my teachers taught me – with the dombra's strings and the voice's resonance creating one spirit.' Zenaida: renaissance reverence with a modern soul Later in the evening, the ethereal voices of Zenaida, a young ensemble born at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, rose into the Moroccan sky. Their journey through Renaissance polyphony brought a quiet, transcendent beauty to the stage. Pieces by Josquin Desprez, Pierre de la Rue, and anonymous composers unfolded with care and emotional depth. In Plaine de deul , mourning found a fragile dignity. In Gaude virgo , light seemed to pour through invisible stained glass. What made their presence remarkable was not just technical mastery but a genuine reverence. These young musicians, drawn from across the globe, offered more than historical re-creation, they brought the sacred to life. Aissawa: a joyful ascent The final performance ignited the crowd as night deepened. A local Aissawa troupe, clad in white and green, filled Jnan Sbil with a wave of Sufi energy. The drums struck with thunderous clarity. The flutes and chants rose together in hypnotic layers. This was sacred music not meant for contemplation but for communal elevation. Dancers moved with ecstatic devotion, and some in the audience joined, swept by rhythm and fervor. Where the earlier performances invited inward reflection, the Aissawa called for union, body, soul, and spirit, in collective celebration. The night ended not in silence, but in joyful noise. A night of many paths, one sacred thread In bringing together ancient traditions from across continents, the Fez World Sacred Music Festival reminded its audience of something deeply human: that music can be a temple, a prayer, a bridge. Whether whispered in mugham, carried on the winds of the Kazakh steppe, sung in Renaissance Latin, or shouted in Sufi exaltation, each voice gave a truth – sacred, timeless, and shared. Tags: Fez World Sacred Music Festivalsacred musicSufi musicSufi tradition
