Upcoming Research Oud Playing Style & Technique from the Middle East to Asia
The Lute Player
Furthered his studies at Europe's finest Guitar School of Modern Music 'The Guitar Institute' in London, England. Following this he took a brief sojourn to the Middle East to further his passion in the art of Oud playing at the Bayt el Oud el Arabi in Cairo under the supervision of world renowned Iraqi virtuoso Naseer Shamma. Currently lectures at the National Academy of Arts Culture & Heritage (ASWARA) in Kuala Lumpur where he teaches basic fundamental and the various approaches to Oud playing and regularly perform the Arabic Classical Music, Improvisations and other repertoire with the Kuala Lumpur Oriental Ensemble all over the country and abroad.
The Arabic Lute
History
According to Farabi, the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. The legend tells that the grieving Lamech hung the body of his dead son from a tree. The first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton.
The Tradition
The oud was most likely introduced to Western Europe by the Arabs who established the Umayyad Caliphate of Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula beginning in the year 711 AD. Oud-like instruments such as the Ancient Greek Pandoura and the Roman Pandura likely made their way to the Iberian Peninsula much earlier than the oud. However, it was the royal houses of Al-Andalus that cultivated the environment which raised the level of oud playing to greater heights and boosted the popularity of the instrument. The most famous oud player of Al-Andalus was Zyriab. He established the first music conservatory in Spain, enhanced playing technique and added a fifth course to the instrument. The European verison of this instrument came to be known as the lute - 'luth in French, laute in German, liuto in Italian, luit in Dutch, (all beginning with the letter "L") and alaud in Spanish. The word "luthier" meaning stringed instrument maker is also derived from the French luth. Unlike the oud the Europen lute utilized frets (usually tied gut).
Classes
I. Oud Introduction for Beginner & Intermediate Level [Theory & Practice]
II. Oud for Advance Level [Technique & Repertoire]
Conferences & Festivals
2010
31st March:Songs of Peace & Reconciliation @ Yogyakarta Indonesia
2008 - 2009
26th July: Pesta Gambus Sabah ke10 @ Papar Sabah
Performing Art Concert, IIUM | School of Oriental & African Study London England (Summer Course) | Classical Musical Festival, IIUM
2007 Pick up The Pieces Music Festival | MSC International Advisory Panel 2007 [IAP] Putera Jaya | School of Oriental & African Study London England (Summer Course) | Performance for Pameran Kegemilangan Sains Dalam Tamadun Islam KL Convention Centre | Audio Designer & Music Consultant for Pameran Kegemilangan Sains Dalam Tamadun Islam | Lute Ensemble Performance for Launching of ASWARA New Campus | 75th Memorial of Lute Conference Cairo Egypt
2006 School of Oriental & African Study London England (Summer Course) | 2nd Muscat Lute Conference Oman | 11th Arabic Music Festival Cairo Egypt | ISME (International Seminar of Music Education) | Pick up The Pieces Music Festival
Appreciation
Zulkarnain Yusof would like to THANK: Naseer Shamma, Yaroub Mohd Fadhel, Munir Bashir, Mohd Fadhel Hussin, Mustafa Faruk Turunz, Yurdal Tokcan, Nehad Sayyid, Mustafa Antar, Muhammad Ali Jaafar, Mamdouh Gebaly & The Kaherah Ensemble, Muhammad Antar, All Friends at Beyt el Oud Cairo, Mimmo Perusso at Aquilacorde Italy, Matthias Wagner at Pyramid Germany, Kurchner Strings, Fadzil Ahmad & Seri Maharani Ghazal Ensemble, Ustaz Dato Hassan Azhari, Ustaz Taha Hassan Azhari for their continous support & inspiring music.
