Help: Playing the Oud

Subject: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 03:40 PM

Since I tookup belly dancing, Mister thought it might be fun to learn to play the oud, since there seem to be plenty of drummers, and no oud players, at least in our area. Do any of you play the oud, or know anything about it? I know nothing, but I am fixin to consult the Almighty Google. Many thanks!

KFC

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 03:45 PM

I don't Kim. as you know the Tiple is the wackyass instrument of choice at the NYCFTTS. However, you really "ouda" read this thread........CLICK

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 03:51 PM

Well... shoot fire...... I usually Search first and this time I didn't. See what I get! Thanks Spaw. :-)

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 06:40 PM

The reason that there are lots of drummers is that it is easy to learn a basic drum part. The Oud isn't a folk instrument, and it takes a lot of study, both technique and theory to master it(it takes a lot of work to even get it to sound like an instrument)--it is the main instrument in Arabic and Turkish music--the same as the violin in western classical music, except that in performance, there is a lot of improvisation, so you need the same level of understanding of theory that a western Jazz musician has(there are a lot of similarities between jazz and arabic/turkish music)--and the scales have "quarter-tones" or even stranger fractions--

If Mister wants to have fun, the easiest thing is to learn some Armenian or Greek music(they use western scales) on whatever folk instrument he plays--

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 06:52 PM

I beg to differ. The oud is INDEED a folk instrument, at least in Middle Eastern musical tradition.

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 07:13 PM

In the Middle Eastern Music, it is a classical instrument--when you little Nagwa Fouad wannabees get out their and shake your tootsies, the band is using a classical music structure--well, at least if they are playing Arabic, Turkish, or Persian music--all those Muhammed Abdul Wahab tunes on the "Bellydance" CD's are come from the classical music school, they are not folk music--believe me--

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 07:46 PM

The guitar is both a classical and a folk instrument. Likewise the violin. What you say may be true, however surely you know there are Middle Eastern folk musicians who play this instrument. Turku Eurasian Folk Ensemble, for instance.

Who are you to discourage someone from learning to play a new instrument? So what if it's different, or difficult. That's part of the fun. It's a little thing called Accomplishment.

I do not know who Nagwa Fouad is. I am, however, a pretty darn good dancer. So go have a Coke and a smile. :-)

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 07:55 PM

Kim,

Don't be too hard on GUEST.

There are many instruments sat unused in the back of closets, because someone thought it would be 'fun' to learn.

The Oud isn't easy to learn, and I think GUEST makes a valid point.

If Mister is serious, good luck to him on his long journey

Paul

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: 53
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 09:29 PM

i've never heard of it. BOB

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 10:21 PM

I'm just saying that since GUEST does not personally know either my husband or myself, he/she has no right to evaluate whether or not either one of us is qualified to play any instrument. That's all.

The violin isn't easy to learn either, but that didn't stop me.

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 03:42 AM

(warning, still clearing out the old jokes file)
There was a man who bought a second-hand oud but the neck was broken, he looked everywhere for suitable wood, but this being in an oasis, there was little to be found. Then the cook said: "I have an old pan with a hole in it, the wooden handle might just fit." He tried it , it wasn't bad but the only tune he could get out of it was...(wait for it, though it isn;'t worth the wait...)
The Oud Panhandle
RtS (Digging myself a hole in the sand...)

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: John P
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 08:37 AM

The oud, like most instruments, can be used to play a wide variety of types of music. I play folk music on it a lot. I use it for medieval music, original tunes, British Isles song accompaniment, the occasional Turkish or Bulgarian tune, French dance tunes. And like most instruments, a moderate level of accomplishment can still sound good, if you stick to what you can play well. It's not as hard as the fiddle to make good sounding music on. I was a little afraid the first time I took it on stage, but I just kept telling myself not to fret . . . .

There are a couple of instruction books available. I work for a company in Seattle called Dusty Strings that operates an acoustic music store. I've seen the books there, although I haven't looked inside them. Ron Reed who works there would probably be the most knowledgeable about them. You could email him if you want more info.

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:38 AM

Not to fret! Heeheeehee!!!!

Thanks John. I will check it out. :-)

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 12:32 PM

KimC--If you had bothered to check Turku's own publicity, you would have read this--

Farzad leads TURKU on violin, ud, and vocals. A native of Gilan Province in northern
Persia, Farzad is a Persian violin master, having performed as lead violinist with the
Persian Royal Youth Orchestra, and was a featured violinist and composer on Iranian
State Radio.

Nagwa Fouad is one of the greatest and most influential dancers of all time--she starred in many films, andher choreographies and costumes are much studied by contemporary performers.

If you re-read what I said, you will note that, rather than trying to discourage, I made some practical and useful suggestions. Take the chip off your shoulder--

Subject: RE: Help: Playing the Oud
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 01:20 PM

Whatever.

Thank you Spaw and John P for the resources you mentioned. I think I can take it from here.