Mustapha Skandrani

Summary

Mustapha Skandrani, (17 November 1920 in the Lower Casbah, Algiers – 8 October 2005)[1][2] was an Algerian pianist, performer of chaâbi music.[3]

Mustapha Skandrani
Born(1920-11-17)17 November 1920
Algiers, French Algeria
Died18 October 2005(2005-10-18) (aged 84)
Algiers, Algeria
GenresChaabi, Andalusian classical music
Occupation(s)Musician, pianist

Early life edit

Born in 1920, in the Casbah of Algiers, in Algeria, Skandrani's family were of Turkish origin and originally came from Iskander, Turkey.[4] Indeed, his family surname "Skandrani" is a Turkish origin surname used in Algeria by families from İskenderun.[5]

He grew up and studied until the elementary certificate without problem in the secular Casbah.

Career edit

Skandrani made his radio debut with the composer Rachid Ksentini and his partner Marie Soussan. That was followed by a tour of Algeria in 1940 with Umm Kulthum, Mahieddine Bachtarzi, Driscar, Mustapha Kateb and others. On his return from tour, he accompanied all the stars who attended concerts among other Dahmane Ben Achour, El Hadj Menouar and the dean of Chaabi music El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka.[6] As a conductor of the concert part, Skandrani was present in 46 creations of the Arab Theatre of the Opera of Algiers.[citation needed]

In 1956, musicologist El Boudali Safir assigned Skandrani to the modern orchestra as a replacement for El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka. He was also the soloist in the classical orchestra commissioned to Abderrazak Fakhardji, a position he held until the independence of Algeria, combining its radio business with interests in the emerging television.

Beginning in 1938, Skandrani composed over 300 modern compositions or chaâbi and 187 qasida and ditties including "Youm El Djemaa", "El Haraz", "Kifechhilti", "Qahoua ou lateye", "A bouya Hnini" "A laini filaati. " From 1966 to 1981, he was a teacher at the Conservatory of Algiers and served as director from 1981.[7]

He died on 8 October 2005 at the age of 85 at his home in Algiers after a long illness.[8] He is buried at the Sidi M'hamed Cemetery.

Discography edit

  • Touchia (1963 EP, Pathé)
  • Stikhbar (1965 LP, Pathé)
  • Khlassat (1965 LP, Pathé)
  • Le Piano Dans La Musique Arabe (1992 Compilation, Artistes Arabes Associés)
  • Les Virtuoses (1993 Compilation, Artistes Arabes Associés)

References edit

  1. ^ "Mustapha Skandrani - Les Virtuoses. Piano /AAA 066". Club du Disque Arabe. 1993. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Le pianiste Mustapha Skandrani". December 31, 2005. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  3. ^ Sweeney, Phillip (1991). The Virgin Directory of World Music. Virgin. p. 8. ISBN 9780863693786. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ "L'artiste aux doigts d'or". La Nouvelle République. 2007. Mustapha Skandrani a vu le jour le 17 novembre 1920, à la Casbah d'Alger. Selon lui, ses origines seraient d'Iskander, ville turque.
  5. ^ Parzymies, Anna (1985), Anthroponymie Algérienne: Noms de Famille Modernes d'origine Turque, Éditions scientifiques de Pologne, p. 109, ISBN 83-01-03434-3
  6. ^ Hammou, Azeddine (18 October 2005). "Obituary of Mustapha Skandrani". El Watan. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ^ Jean-Pierre Thiollet, 88 notes pour piano solo, Neva Editions, 2015, p. 52 and 54. ISBN 978-2-3505-5192-0
  8. ^ "Mustapha Skandrani est mort Un artiste s'en va". October 19, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2014.

External links edit

  • Mustapha Skandrani discography at Discogs