I have been playing the oud since 1998. It has become an increasingly important part of my musical direction.
Starting in 2001, I began attending the Arab American Arts Institute's annual Arabic Music Retreat, led by the great oud/violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen,
which added immeasurably to my love for this instrument and my appreciation for classical Arabic music.
The Oud (or 'Ud) is the most popular musical instrument of most
Arab cultures. It is the ancestor of the lute, guitar, and similar western instruments.
It has five courses of double strings and a single low string. The fingerboard is fretless, which allows the player access to the microtones
essential to Arab music. Some great historical oud players
were Farid El-Atrache, Riad El-Sunbati, Munir Bachirand Mohammed El-Qassabji. Of contemporary oud players, I admire Simon Shaheen, Anouar Brahem and Bassam Saba. My Oud was built by Viken Najarian and has been modified by Najib Shaheen. Click Here to go to my oud page. Photo by Amber Shields |