The oud (Arabic: عود, romanized: ʿūd, pronounced [ʕuːd]) is a string instrument with deep historical roots and a rich cultural legacy. The Oud dates back to the Uruk period in Southern Mesopotamia (Iraq), over 5,000 years ago. This short-neck lute-type instrument, characterized by its pear-shaped body and fretless design, is a staple in Middle Eastern music. Typically, it has 11 strings grouped into six courses, though variations with five or seven courses exist, comprising 10 or 13 strings respectively.
How is the Oud Different from the Guitar?
While the Oud is the ancestor of the guitar, several distinct differences set the two apart. One of the most notable differences is that the Oud is fretless. This design allows musicians to play microtones giving them the ability to perform a wider range of Maqams. A Maqam is a set of scales and melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music, providing a framework for improvisation and composition. much like scales in Western music but with more complexity and variety.
The modern Oud has 11 strings, with five pairs of strings tuned in unison, and a single bass string usually used to create a drone which provides the fundamental pitch for the composition. Musicians use a pick to play the Oud, which, unlike the guitar, is mainly a melodic instrument.
Historical Evolution and Cultural Significance
The oud is closely related to various lute-type instruments, including Western lutes that evolved from the Medieval Islamic oud. Its ancestors can be traced back to pre-Islamic Persia, and after the Muslim conquest of Persia, the oud spread and adapted in regions like Arabia, Turkey, and the Balkans. The instrument is directly descended from the Persian barbat lute, distinguished by its lack of frets and smaller neck. The oldest surviving oud is housed in Brussels’ Museum of Musical Instruments.
In the 11th century, Al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham, a renowned musician, described the modern oud in his music compendium Ḥāwī al-Funūn wa Salwat al-Maḥzūn. Earlier, in the 9th century, the philosopher Yaʻqūb ibn Isḥāq al-Kindī provided a detailed description of the oud’s construction in his epistle Risāla fī-l-Luḥūn wa-n-Nagham, specifying dimensions such as a length of thirty-six fingers, a width of fifteen fingers, and a depth of seven and a half fingers.
Transformation Through Time
Initially, pre-Islamic Persian, Arabian, and Mesopotamian stringed instruments had three strings and a small sound box. During the Islamic era, these instruments evolved, gaining a larger sound box, a fourth string, and a pegbox. In early Arabian civilization, instruments featured four courses tuned in successive fourths. Over time, double-string courses became common. By the 9th century, a fifth string was sometimes added to complete a two-octave range. The modern tuning preserves the ancient fourths succession, with regional and personal variations.
Historical records suggest that Ziryab, a prominent musician in 9th-century Andalusia, added a fifth string to the oud. This innovation significantly influenced the development of the instrument in Europe, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula, where Ziryab established a renowned music school.
Etymology and Cultural Spread
The term “oud” (عود) means “wood” or “stick” in Arabic. Various theories about its etymology exist. Some researchers suggested it means a flexible stick, or it might derive from the Persian word rōd or rūd, meaning “string.” Others linked it to the Sanskrit rudrī, meaning “string instrument.” Another theory traces it to the Syriac ʿoud-a, meaning “wooden stick” or “burning wood,” related to the Biblical Hebrew ’ūḏ.
Ancient Origins
The lute family, to which the oud belongs, has a long history dating back thousands of years. Curt Sachs differentiated between long-necked and short-necked lutes, with the latter being the ancestor of the modern oud. Richard Dumbrill documented the existence of lutes in Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago, using iconographic evidence such as a cylinder seal depicting a woman playing a stick “lute” from around 3100 BC. These ancient lutes were used in various cultures, including Greek, Egyptian, Elamite, Hittite, Roman, Turkic, Indian, Chinese, Armenian, Canaanite.
The short-necked lute developed in Bactria and Gandhara, evolving into an almond-shaped instrument. Gandharan art, influenced by Greek styles, depicted these lutes, which eventually influenced the Islamic, Sino-Japanese, and European lute families. Persian figurines from the 8th century BC show the earliest images of short-necked lutes.
Spread to Europe and Beyond
The Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 brought the oud to Europe, where it influenced the development of Western lutes. By the 11th century, Muslim Iberia was a hub for instrument manufacture, and these goods spread to Provence, influencing French troubadours and eventually reaching the rest of Europe. While Europe developed the lute, the oud remained central to Arab and Ottoman music, undergoing various transformations.
Theories of Origin
Some theories attribute the oud’s invention to Lamech, a descendant of Adam and Cain, or to the Persian prophet Mani. Ibn a-ṭ–Ṭaḥḥān suggested that the oud was invented by philosophers or even the Devil, though he dismissed the latter as implausible. Another theory posits that the oud originated from the Persian barbat, a short-necked lute used in pre-Islamic Persia. The barbat, introduced to Mecca in the 7th century, evolved alongside the oud, with both instruments being used into the 10th century.
Modern Variations
Today’s ouds fall into three main categories: Arabian, Turkish, and Persian (barbat). The Arabic oud is found throughout the Arab world and is known for its larger size and deeper sound. Turkish ouds, played by Anatolian Greeks and others in the Mediterranean, are smaller, higher-pitched, and have a brighter timbre. The Persian barbat, while similar to the oud, has a smaller body, longer neck, and distinct sound. The cümbüş is a hybrid of the oud and banjo, developed in Turkey.
Different tunings are used in various traditions. The Arabic oud is commonly tuned C2 F2 A2 D3 G3 C4, and some use a higher pitch tuning, F2 A2 D3 G3 C4 F4 while the Turkish “Bolahenk” tuning is C#2 F#2 B2 E3 A3 D4 or a whole tone higher than the Arabic Oud.
Regional Variants
The oud arbi, a North African variant, has a longer neck and four courses, tuned in a re-entrant tuning. It should not be confused with the kwitra, a differently shaped and tuned instrument. The oud kumethra, also known as the pregnant or pear oud, has a unique pear-like shape and is mostly found in Egypt. Additionally, there is the electric oud, an experimental version used by contemporary musicians like the Franco-Algerian Folktronica band Speed Caravan.
Recognized Well-known Oudists:
Farid Al Atrash (1910-1974): Syrian-Egyptian singer, composer, and actor. He was born in Syria and moved to Egypt to work. Named the king of the Oud at the time. Al-Atrash embarked on a highly successful career spanning more than four decades—recording 500 songs and starring in 31 movies.
- Farid Al Atrash playing Asturias by Isaac Albeniz
- Improvisation by Farid Al Atrash:
Rohi Al Khammash (1923–1998): Palestinian-Iraqi musician and composer. He was born in Palestine and worked as the head of the music ensemble at the Palestinian Radio Station in 1939 until he had to flee Palestine in 1948 upon the Nakba then continued his musical career in Iraq, where he significantly contributed to the development of Iraqi music.
- Samaei Hijaz KarKurd composed by Rohi Al Khammash:
- Improvisation by Rohi Al Khammas:
Munir Bashir (1930- 1997)
Munir Bashir, often referred to as “The King of Oud,” was an Iraqi Assyrian musician who is widely regarded as one of the greatest oud players of the 20th century. His innovative techniques and deep understanding of maqam music have left a lasting legacy.
- Improvisation by Munir Bashir:
- Taksim en Makam: Kurdi by Munir Bashir
Marcel Khalifa (1950- present):
Lebanese composer, singer, and oud player. Khalife taught oud playing at several universities and music institutions in Lebanon while at the same touring the MENA region, Europe, and the United States to perform.
- Improvisation
- Semai Bayat by Marcel Khalifa
Conclusion
The oud is not just an instrument; it is a testament to centuries of musical evolution and cultural exchange. From its ancient origins in Persia to its pivotal role in Middle Eastern and European music, the oud has a rich history that continues to resonate today. Its various forms and tunings reflect the diverse cultures that have embraced and transformed it, making the oud a symbol of musical heritage and innovation.
About the Author
References:
- https://artofguitar.me/blogs/news/how-the-oud-became-a-guitar-the-history-of-the-world-s-oldest-instrument
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud#cite_note-:2-47
- https://www.ethnicmusical.com/oud/oud-instrument/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Sachs
- https://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclopedia/540/
- https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%87%D8%B1
