"Shams al-'Ashiya" (Arabic: شمس العشية, lit.'The Evening Sun') is a piece of Andalusi nawbah, a form of strophic poetry.[1][2] It's one of the most popular songs sung on holidays and celebrations in Morocco—especially Eid al-Fitr.[1][2]

Shams al-'Ashiya
Original titleشمس العشية
LanguageAndalusi dialectical Arabic
Genre(s)Andalusi zajal
FormAndalusi nawba

Composition edit

The musician and researcher specializing in Moroccan musical heritage, Abdeslam Khaloufi [ar], classifies it as a sana'a (صنعة) of Mizān Qudām al-Māya (ميزان قدام الماية), or Nawbat al-Māya [ar] (نوبة الماية).[1] It is a piece of zajal poetry, meaning that it is in Andalusi dialectical Arabic rather than Standard Arabic.[1][3] It spread throughout Morocco, though its author/composer is unknown.[1]

Renditions edit

This piece is a standard of Andalusi music and has been performed by many major Moroccan ensembles, including: the National Broadcast Ensemble led by Moulay Ahmed Loukili [fr], the al-Barihi Ensemble led by Abdelkrim Rais, and the Ensemble of the Institute of Music in Tetuan led by Mohamed Larbi Temsamani [ar].[1] The rendition by Mohamed Bajeddoub is also very popular.[1]

Recently, it has also been reinterpreted by Nabyla Maan.[1][4][5]

Content edit

The subject of the poem is the setting sun, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the departure or loss of a friend or loved one.[1]

The piece also attests to historic trade relations between the region and the Venetian Republic, as the song mentions "al-Awani l-Bunduqiya" (الأواني البندقية, "the Venetian glassware") imported from Venice.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Khaloufi, Abdeslam (2020-05-25). "كيف صارت "شمس العشية" أغنية العيد في المغرب؟". BBC News Arabic (Interview) (in Arabic). Interviewed by Basma Kracha. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  2. ^ a b "شمس العشية.. معايدة المغاربة". arriyadiyah.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  3. ^ "The Zajal: Al-Andalus' poetry and singing".
  4. ^ "نبيلة معن تؤدي "شمس العشية" بتوزيع موسيقي جديد...الفيديو". 2M (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  5. ^ "فيديو. نبيلة معان تحيي رائعة "شمس العشية"". ar.le360.ma. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  6. ^ IslamKotob. مجلة مجمع اللغة العربية - 1 (in Arabic). IslamKotob.