Mohamed Tahar El FERGANI
It is a landmark of “Malouf” art, very famous in eastern Algeria. He is distinguished by his exceptional voice and is known for having enriched authentic Algerian music.
He was born on May 9, 1928 in the city of Constantine. Coming from a family of artists, his father “Hamou FERGANI” was both a singer, composer and performer in the “Hawzi” style. His sister, Hadja Zhor, performed the famous “Malouf” at the FERGANI School.
Mohamed Tahar FERGANI began his artistic career by training, at the age of six, to play the “flute” instrument, then by playing the “Ney”. Initially, he was attracted by oriental art, the basics of which he learned by joining the “Aube” association, where he interpreted poems by great artists such as “Oum Kalthoum” and “Mohamed Abd El Wahab”.
Then the Algerian artist changed his style and turned to “Malouf”, which is one of the derivatives of the ancient and famous Andalusian music in Constantine. His teachers were “Cheikh Hassouna” and “Cheikh Baba Abeid” who themselves studied music with his father, “Hamou FERGANI”.
Mohamed Tahar FERGANI managed to establish himself in the art of “Malouf” thanks to his exceptional voice which, according to experts, was characterized by the ability to interpret songs in four groups of eight units (octaves). He also interpreted traditional songs in a balanced manner while having a delicate musical sense and playing the violin remarkably, which subsequently made him a true school of the art of Malouf for more than half a century.
Sheikh FERGANI died on December 7, 2016 in Paris, the French capital, at the age of 88, after a battle with illness.
He was born on May 9, 1928 in the city of Constantine. Coming from a family of artists, his father “Hamou FERGANI” was both a singer, composer and performer in the “Hawzi” style. His sister, Hadja Zhor, performed the famous “Malouf” at the FERGANI School.
Mohamed Tahar FERGANI began his artistic career by training, at the age of six, to play the “flute” instrument, then by playing the “Ney”. Initially, he was attracted by oriental art, the basics of which he learned by joining the “Aube” association, where he interpreted poems by great artists such as “Oum Kalthoum” and “Mohamed Abd El Wahab”.
Then the Algerian artist changed his style and turned to “Malouf”, which is one of the derivatives of the ancient and famous Andalusian music in Constantine. His teachers were “Cheikh Hassouna” and “Cheikh Baba Abeid” who themselves studied music with his father, “Hamou FERGANI”.
Mohamed Tahar FERGANI managed to establish himself in the art of “Malouf” thanks to his exceptional voice which, according to experts, was characterized by the ability to interpret songs in four groups of eight units (octaves). He also interpreted traditional songs in a balanced manner while having a delicate musical sense and playing the violin remarkably, which subsequently made him a true school of the art of Malouf for more than half a century.
Sheikh FERGANI died on December 7, 2016 in Paris, the French capital, at the age of 88, after a battle with illness.