Music in Morocco is exemplified best in the music from The Master Musicians of Jajouka, which is at the moment led by Bachir Attar. The band first made its modern appearance in the 50s and 60s when they gained exposure through artists such as William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Ornette Coleman and most famously with Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. The Master Musicians of Jajouka would also go onto perform and record with the Rolling Stones in 1989.
However, 50 years ago is much closer relatively to the time they began as musicians. Jajouka is actually a town founded by the Attar’s, and is the sanctuary of Sidi Ahmed Sheikh, who went to Morocco from the east around 800 AD to spread Islam. According to some sources, the music has been passed down through the generations for an upwards of 1300 years, making it one of the oldest known bands in recorded history. According to legend, a great ancestor of the Attar’s once fell asleep in “The Cave of Boujeloud,” or Pan, the god of music amongst other things. During his sleep, the ancestor saw the god in a dream playing the “most beautiful music he had ever heard.” Thus the tradition was invented that the Attar’s would secure their place in history as masters of music.
The instruments used aren’t as common as those we would find in western music; some are even unique to Morocco. The instruments used by the master musicians are as follows:
Ghaita – “A double reed horn with a series of holes, made of apricot wood in Ouezanne, a town in Northern Morocco.” The instrument is sometimes referred to as the Arabic oboe.
Tebel – A double skinned drum with varying sizes. It can be played with sticks or the hands.
Djarbouga – “A small ceramic drum with a snare. It has a strong sound for its size.”
Bendir – “A large shallow drum with a snare, common in North Africa.”
Gimbri – “A bowl back styled rustic lute with a goatskin top.” The instrument has four strings and is played with a long curved pick.
Lira – “A common bamboo flute, recorder-like, made in Jajouka.”
Kamanja – “A violin played upright on the knee typically played with the Gimbri, drums and vocals.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AU8HWbQUsM -The Master Musicians of Jajouka – Apocalypse Across the Sky