Ahwash أحواش
High Atlas drum ensembles: opening accompaniment and a later four-part excerpt with the txllif lead. [1]Bernard Lortat-Jacob · L’ahwash berbère du Maroc, figures 5–7lortajablog.fr[2]Darbatook · Chleuh / Ahwachresources.darbatook.org[3]CREM-CNRS · Ahwach, Taslli, 1975; Lortat-Jacob and Jouadarchives.crem-cnrs.fr[4]Lortat-Jacob · later four-part Ahwash, figure 6lortajablog.fr
Hear the shape of the rhythm.
Basic · opening (4/4)Musical context
Ahwash combines sung poetry, percussion and collective dance. Instrument roles vary by region; in Souss, ensembles can include tara frame drums, a low tbel or dendoum, and metal naqqous. Listen to a local ensemble alongside these studies. [2]Darbatook · Chleuh / Ahwachresources.darbatook.org
In the High Atlas, the tizi is a gradual rhythmic transition led by the solo drum. The later four-part study includes a short txllif phrase from the documented Taslli performance. A repeated practice excerpt cannot reproduce the soloist’s continuing improvisation or the gradual transition. [1]Bernard Lortat-Jacob · L’ahwash berbère du Maroc, figures 5–7lortajablog.fr[3]CREM-CNRS · Ahwach, Taslli, 1975; Lortat-Jacob and Jouadarchives.crem-cnrs.fr
Names & context
- Arabic name
- أحواش
- Arabic alternatives
- احواش
- Other names & spellings
- Ahwach · Ahouach · Ahouache
Basic is the opening accompaniment with thrrim, assiff and bngri. Classic is the later four-part excerpt after the tizi, including the txllif lead from Lortat-Jacob’s transcription of the Taslli performance around 16:00. Its two-bar 7/8 loop is slowed for practice. The opening solo is freely improvised and is not written out in the source. [1]Bernard Lortat-Jacob · L’ahwash berbère du Maroc, figures 5–7lortajablog.fr[2]Darbatook · Chleuh / Ahwachresources.darbatook.org[3]CREM-CNRS · Ahwach, Taslli, 1975; Lortat-Jacob and Jouadarchives.crem-cnrs.fr[4]Lortat-Jacob · later four-part Ahwash, figure 6lortajablog.fr
Regions & traditions
Musical use and influences can span several regions. [1]Bernard Lortat-Jacob · L’ahwash berbère du Maroc, figures 5–7lortajablog.fr[2]Darbatook · Chleuh / Ahwachresources.darbatook.org