Traces of ,Moors' – Musik- und Tanzfestival – Tag 1

In the organizer's words:

Munich is getting a festival that makes musical history audible in a new way.

The transcultural ensemble JISR is celebrating its tenth anniversary with TRACES OF 'MOORS' - Moorish Traces. Since its foundation in 2016, the collective, under the artistic direction of Mohcine Ramdan, has combined musical practice with social reflection and built bridges between North Africa, Europe and the global diaspora.

2 days | concerts | dance | panel talks | workshops | film

Program I DAY 1

19:00 - Open Space Performance

Munich Moriskentänzer × Jil Gnawa

The start of the festival leads directly into the historical motif of Traces of 'Moors'. The Munich Moriskentänzer - whose famous figures were created by the sculptor Erasmus Grasser for the Old Town Hall in the 15th century - encounter the lively musical tradition of the Gnawa from Morocco.

What once appeared as a projection of the "foreign" on European stages meets the real musical present here. The reconstructed dances of the Moriska enter into a dialog with the pulsating rhythms of the Gnawa. The result is a performance in which history, ritual and the present merge and the question of cultural encounters is posed anew.

20:00 - Concert

Jil Gnawa

Gnawa music is one of the most fascinating spiritual traditions in North Africa. Its origins lie in West African cultures and in the mystical practices of the Maghreb. It is characterized by the deep bass lines of the gembri, the metallic playing of the qraqeb and responsorial singing that creates a trance-like atmosphere in repetitive rhythms.

The ensemble Jil Gnawa, founded by Maâlem Moulay Mohamed Khabba, brings this tradition to international stages. Their music combines ritual energy with the openness of modern concert formats - an intense sound space between spirituality, rhythm and musical ecstasy.

21:00 - Anniversary concert

JISR Large Ensemble

Since its foundation in 2016, the Munich-based ensemble JISR // BRÜCKE has seen itself as a musical meeting place between different cultures. Musicians from Europe, North Africa and other regions work together to develop a musical language in which tradition and improvisation coexist on an equal footing.

For its tenth anniversary, JISR is expanding into a large ensemble. The music moves between North African rhythms, jazz improvisation and contemporary compositions. The cyclical bass figures of the gnawa often form the pulsating core around which melodic lines and free improvisations unfold. A concert about encounters, exchange and the power of shared musical spaces.

21:45 - Concert

JISR × Jil Gnawa

At the end of the first festival evening, two musical worlds meet directly: the transcultural ensemble JISR and the ritual energy of Gnawa music.

The result is not a simple crossover, but a musical dialog. The hypnotic rhythms of Gnawa are combined with jazz improvisation, modern timbres and spontaneous musical encounters. Traditional forms are not only quoted, but continued - a common sound space between ritual, groove and contemporary musical practice.