Oriental Lute Makes Comeback On Iran Music Scene
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published April 20, 2021 | 09:30 AM
Tehran, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Apr, 2021 ) :The Oriental lute is making a comeback in Iran after decades in the shadows as musicians reconnect with an instrument integral to Arab and Turkish musical tradition in a fragmented region.
Known as the oud in Arabic, it is commonly called the barbat in Persian, although some would argue the instruments differ slightly.
"The number of (oud) students has increased considerably over the past 15 years or so; before a known teacher would have had a dozen students whereas today they'll be about 50," said Majid Yahyanejad, a 35-year-old oud teacher in Tehran.
Noushin Pasdar, a 40-year-old musician in the Iranian capital, made the same observation.
She started teaching the stringed instrument "about 23 years ago" after graduating from professional arts school, known as honarestan in Persian.
"At the time, most of my students were old, really old. Now they're more on the young side," Pasdar said.
"We only knew the oud as played in Egypt and Iraq. We knew nothing of the oud in Turkey. But today we know it's also played in Syria, Kuwait and Jordan." - Internet friends - Yahyanejad noticed young Iranian oud players were "taking more interest in Arabic and Turkish culture.
.. and Turkish, Arab and Iranian musicians are becoming friends on the internet".
The barbat has been around for centuries and it takes up a whole chapter of the "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings), written in the 10th century.
Iran and Syria are lobbying for the manufacture and playing of the oud to be added to UNESCO's "intangible heritage" list.
The barbat had fallen out of Iran's classical and traditional repertoires, with (other) stringed instruments such as the setar, tar, santur and kamancheh given preference.
But in the second half of the 20th century, a man named Mansour Nariman introduced oud instruction at the honarestan and published the first Persian-language manual on the instrument, Yahyanejad points out.
Nariman, who died in 2015, had been drawn to the "warmth" of its sound, at a time when the Arab oud did not even figure on Iran's musical periscope.
In the absence of any teachers back then, Nariman taught himself and wrote off letters to Egyptians he had heard playing the instrument on the radio.
He received a reply from one of the biggest Names in Arab music, Mohamed Abdelwahab.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
1 day ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
3 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
10 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago