Katara to promote Oud as global cultural and musical asset

Doha: The magical rhythms of the Oud, an instrument very special to the Arab music, are resonating through the streets of Katara Cultural Village since the opening of the Second Katara Oud Festival on Thursday.

Through the annual Festival, Katara aims to promote this stringed instrument “as a globally shared cultural asset of the human beings”, said Ismail Zafer Haznedaroglu, a Turkish expert on Oud and a member of the organising committee.

According to Ismail, there are many theories about the origin of the Oud, some spiritual and some scientific. The most accepted theory is that the Oud, as a musical instrument has its origin in Central Asia. Some Turkish tribes had been using an instrument called Kopuz which later travelled to the Middle East and gradually transformed itself into the Oud, as it is known today.

Although the instrument originated in Central Asia, it was developed in the Middle East. From the Middle East, it later travelled to Spain through Ziryab, the legendary musician of the Arab and Islamic world.  

Oud is considered the “father of guitar” which originated in Spain. Oud first transformed itself to lute and then to guitar. 

The difference between Oud and guitar is basically in the tuning system, to put it in layman’s language, explained Ismail.

Ziryab introduced a fifth string to the instrument. The modern Oud generally has six strings, each in pairs. Some players are now making innovations by adding a seventh string, said Ismail.  

“Turkish Oud is more academic. Here in the Middle East Oud is something very special. There is more respect for Oud because people here consider it as their own instrument,” said Ismail.

There are different styles in playing Oud and the Gulf region has a specific and original style of its own. The Festival features renowned Oud players from across the globe. Amal Waqar is one of the youngest performers.

Originally from Oman, Waqar was born to an American mother, and is currently based in the US.

With her passion for western music, Waqar says she is trying fusion, with a mix of the Oud and modern western instruments like the Jazz. Such innovations are slowly gaining popularity in the West.

“When I was 16, I found the Oud and started playing myself. Still I am a student of music,” said Waqar, who is currently studying at the Berkeley College of Music. “Although my style is more modern I love the traditional style of playing Oud,” she added. She is using an Oud made by the famous Turkish Oud maker Farooq Turanc, who is also participating in the Katara Festival.

“The Oud I am using is smaller in size. My father brought it for me from Turkey,” said Waqar, who is also a singer.