Hira-Gasy

Musique du Hira Gasy (Madagascar)

Radama 1er

Style mi théâtral mi musical, le hira Gasy est interprété à l’origine par les «~zaza navelas~», les esclaves dispensés de corvée.

Sahon Drafinina

Popularisé dans les années 1930 par le mpihira gasy (chanteur d’hira gasy) Teraka l’Fenoraivo, l’hira gasy va traverser le siècle grâce à Sahon Drafinina qui débute dans les années 1960 en reprenant des tubes des années 1920 comme «~zana Boromanga~». Il sera surtout incarné par la troupe la plus populaire du genre, les Ramilison. Toujours vivant, le genre est réactualisé dans les années 1990 par le groupe Kangasy du petit fils de Rakoto Frah et par la chanteuse Bodo. Radama I

European violins, drums and pianos introduced into Madagascan music in the 19th century by king Radama I. formed with flutes and trumpets the basis of the first large bands wich appeared in the 1920s. They accompanied the hiragasy or mpilalao, half musical, half theatrical pieces combining betsmisarako rhythms with British style (musicians dressed as 19th-century English Officiers and girls in Victorian dresses) and performed by “zaza navelas” (slaves exempted from duties). The hiragasy tradition is still very much alive.

Sahon Drafinina

One of the first popular hiragasy singer was Teraka l’Fenoraivo, recorded in the 1930s. Sahon Drafinina whose career began in the sixties played 1920s hits like “Zana Boromanga”. The island’s most popular troupe is the Ramilisons. Hiragasy has recently undergone a revival in the shape of Bodo and of Kangasy, a group led by Rakato Frah’s grandson.