A sound that is instantly associated with the Middle East, the oud is often described as the king or 'emir' of instruments. With a name coming from the Arabic al-ud, meaning ‘wood’, the instrument has a half-pear-shaped body, a short fretless neck and between 10 and 13 strings played with a plectrum. It is often depicted as the 'composer's instrument', with many well-known composers of Egyptian music in particular depicted holding an oud.
Arabic music utilises modal maqams as the basis for taqsim or improvisation, with up to 50 core maqam that branch out into more than 300 variations. Australian-Egyptian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros brings this music tradition to the western orchestra in works such as Rose and Bluegrass Nikriz.
Beyond traditional music, the oud is stunningly versatile, conveying everything from elation to melancholy. Oud players including Farid et Altrache, Anouar Brahem and Dhafer Youssef have championed the instrument's place in film, jazz and contemporary crossover music, and it is increasingly found in game scores such as Assassin's Creed.
"There's an instant sense of transportation and emotional expression," says Meena Shamaly, host of the Game Show on ABC Classic. "The way it can take you to Egypt in a moment, take you to Turkey, Bulgaria, even Greece. The way it transports you to a culture, a way of life."
