he is blind by the way. I am not sure if he was born that way or it was later in life... either way it doesnt matter because his other senses are
hightened because of it and his ear and understanding of tarab is phenomenal.
enjoy this amazing musical talent. Wala3 al shisha ou esma3 ba2a
This artist is so talented and his playing is so soulful. I really enjoyed it. The way he moves between Maqams is awsome.
The only parts that sounded "artificial" to me were the extreme sliding fretting that he started at 3:28, and using the pick very close to the
fretboard that he started at 6:28.
He is obviously trying to be innovative and he is, but these particular parts didn't sound as natural Tarab to my ears,but it could just be me.
Thank you so much for the link. Luttgutt - 12-1-2012 at 04:02 AM
Nice indeed!
By the way, isn't this an Alber Mansour oud from Lebanon??
P.s. Well there is more to music than "tarab"... or is it just me? :-)) Jody Stecher - 12-1-2012 at 08:35 AM
These two moments mark the start of his use of harmonics as the voice of glissando phrase. At 6:28 his technique is coincidently called
"artificial harmonics". I agree that the music would be better if these effects were used in moderation, as fleeting tone color variations,
but a young player (and even an old one like me) finds out what is enough by first finding out what is too much. I think he's not particularly trying
to be innovative (these are common string techniques after all) but just doing what comes naturally. It's nice to hear an accomplished young player
who is not showing off but instead is interested in expressing musical beauty, which Mustafa Said surely is.
The only parts that sounded "artificial" to me were the extreme sliding fretting that he started at 3:28, and using the pick very close to the
fretboard that he started at 6:28.
He is obviously trying to be innovative and he is,
Microber - 12-1-2012 at 12:23 PM
I have seen Mustafa Said last summer in Badenweiler. He was invited by Matthias Wagner during the Music summer academy.
I would like to say that I've never been so impressed by an oud player (and singer!). I mean seeing an oud player "live", in concert or in front of
me.
[Raed Khoshaba, Samir Joubran, Marcel Khalife, Necati Celik, Nasir Shamma, Adel Salameh, and other I probably forget]
In fact the recording doesn't reproduce the real sound he produces. His sound is extremely soft and sweet and smooth. I agree with SamirCanada : a
phenomenal tarab.
And for me, his playing with the harmonics does absolutely not sound artificial, according to what I heard at the concert. He has played a part of a
samai and the sound was so weak that it was almost difficult to follow the melody, inducing an extraordinary effect. Like observing a landscape in the
mist.
Believe me, it was a very rare moment of happiness. So fragile and so strong.
RobertSamirCanada - 12-1-2012 at 07:12 PM
As some of you noticed I think he was just messing around with some friends. you will see from his other recordings that he doesnt try out those
innovative techniques often. Myself personally I am not completely in love with it but I can appreciate how well you must know your instrument to pull
it off.
for me, what he did at 3:20 was the first time I ever heard that sound out of a oud ( I listen to a lot of oud music, Duh!....) and it wasnt a crazy
flashy technique. just understanding of maqamat and the possibilities of the oud. Alfaraby - 12-2-2012 at 02:34 AM
