Blind musician brings a taste of Morocco to Wiltshire (From Wiltshire Times)

Blind musician brings a taste of Morocco to Wiltshire

4:20pm Monday 12th October 2009 in News By Victoria Ashford

The sound of Moroccan drums could be heard in Bradford on Avon on Saturday as a cultural concert and workshop was held at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Blind mulit-instrumentalist Hassan Erraji, from a village south of Marrakech, visited the centre off Ashley Road, introducing Moroccan dance and music to Wiltshire residents.

Mr Erraji and his team of folk dancers and percussionists held a workshop for families in the day, before performing a concert in the evening.

Kate Schwiezer, of the music centre, said: “It went really well. There was dance, drumming and storytelling all focusing on the traditions of Morocco and north Africa.

“Hassan is from Morocco so he came over with lots of traditional instruments that many people wouldn’t have seen or heard of before.”

Audiences were taken to roaring campfires in the heart of the desert, then to the cool atmosphere of the Atlas Mountains and back to the busy hubbub of the souk, through storytelling and music.

The workshop and concert are just two events in Wiltshire Music Centre’s world music programme for autumn and winter.

Keith Nimmo, artistic director at Wiltshire Music Centre, said: “We’re thrilled at the way we’ve been able to further develop our world music programme this year, not only through exceptional performances such as these, but also through our outreach projects and closer collaboration with cultural organisations and communities throughout the county.”