May is Maqam Month. Let’s dedicate ourselves to learning maqams (maqamat). I’m posting a YouTube short everyday until the end of May to introduce a different maqam to you. I’ll also give an important nugget that will give you a new edge on each maqam. Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you get notified when a new video has been published. Check out the playlist below: Want…
Read MoreAdvanced Oud Demonstration – Al-Qarasia Oud
Learn more about ornamentation on Oud here. Looking for a new professional Oud for a fair price? “The Sultan Plus Oud is the best entry-level professional Oud on the market right now.”
Read MoreIntonation, Compositional Intention, and Aesthetic in Shared Ottoman & Arabic Repertoire
A fascinating phenomenon in middle eastern music is that we have in Arabic and Turkish repertoire some shared repertoire that originate from the Ottoman school of music that permeated their way into Arabic music. However, these pieces are generally performed in such a way as to demonstrate a unique aesthetic. An important distinction between Turkish and Arabic renditions of the same composition are in the intonation of microtones employed in…
Read MoreThe Art of Oud Taqsim – 6 Secrets that will make you sound like Farid Al-Attrash
An Oud Taqsim is probably one of the most well-known musical forms in the Middle East. If you want to play the Oud, you must learn how to play a Taqsim, an Oud solo. Without going into too many details about maqams and theory, here are 6 essential things to think about when you are practicing your taqsim. 1. Opening Your Oud Taqsim The opening first notes that you play…
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