A radio program from the European Institute of Jewish Music hosted by Hervé Roten
MUSIQUES JUIVES D’HIER ET D’AUJOURD’HUI – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2012, JUDAÏQUES FM, 21H05. Radio program in French
In April 1962, the Evian Accords comprised a treaty giving independance to Algeria, causing de facto the exile of 800.000 people to France. Among them, 100 to 150.000 Jews who left, with a heavy heart, a land where they lived for nearly 2000 years.
They took with them the nostalgia of course, but also the courage and desire of a better life for their children, but most of all, a culture deeply anchored in Judaism, its particuliar rituals, its traditional meals and music.
Forgotten during a long time, the music from Jews from Algeria comes back since several years. How many concerts of Andalusian music or Algerian chazanut, reeditions of old recordings: from Cheikh Raymond’s Malouf to songs performed by Rainette l’Oranaise, Lili Labassi, Blond-Blond, Salim Halali, José de Suza, Lili Boniche, Maurice El Médioni, René Perez…
This radio program, illustrated with many musical excerpts, captures this lost world, where Jews and Muslims were for many centuries, holders of Algeria’s musical heritage.
With Anne-Hélène Hoog, historian and curator of the exhibition “Jews from Algeria” at the Museum of Art and History of Judaism in Paris.
Officer of the Ordre of Arts and letters, PhD in musicology at Paris University Sorbonne, prize-winning graduate from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Hervé Roten is the director of the European Institute of Jewish Music since its creation in 2006.
Ethnomusicologist, he quickly developed an interest in the safeguard and digitization of archives, subjects he taught for several years in Reims and Marne-La-Vallée universities.
Author of many articles, books and recordings related to Jewish music, producer of radio programs, Hervé Roten is recognized today as one of the best specialists of Jewish music in the world.
