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20 Exemplary Recordings of Near Eastern Music with Oud

DD - 9-3-2005 at 05:42 PM

Dear All,

Let's say that you just met a person with 30 years' background in Eastern and Western classical, traditional, and folk music, and you found out that this person very recently "discovered" Near Eastern music and fell in love with the oud (so now you met me! Greetings!). And let's say that this person, yours truly, wished to arrange a list of 20 exemplary, "must-have" recordings of Near Eastern music mainly featuring the oud—recordings that together might convey a good taste of the spirit and character of this beautiful and precious musical wonder of the world.

Probably 2 or 3 (or 10) particular disks might come to mind right away, disks that you feel such a list shouldn't be without. What are those 2 or 3 (or 10 or 30!) disks? What recordings do you think should be included without doubt in the "Quintessential Top 20"?

Thank you all, I deeply appreciate your input,
Don

palestine48 - 9-3-2005 at 07:36 PM

I couldnt tell you exact titles because my knowledge is very limited but as far as artists go I think you should look for:
1. Anything by Farid El Atrache
2. Anything by Abd el Wahab and Riad Sonbati
3. Anything by Marcel Khalife (Jadal is probably his most technical album)
4. Anything by Munir Bachir
5. Anything by Maze el Din( Especially Al oud)
6. Any Naseer shama or Charbel Rouhana Albums is great
7. Any Simon Shaheen album is great( Turath is a good traditional Album)

And I think a pointer to you would be is who cares if the album is greato legendary. If it interests you or appeals to your style, check it out. Since you say your location is midwest, I am not sure how close you are to any good sources of arabic music. I have ameoba records here in san francisco, but maybe you can do some research and take a trip up to dearborn michigan(the arab american capotal) and see if any musicians are still available to help you explore all aspects of arabic music.

DD - 9-3-2005 at 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by palestine48
I couldnt tell you exact titles because my knowledge is very limited but as far as artists go I think you should look for:
1. Anything by Farid El Atrache
2. Anything by Abd el Wahab and Riad Sonbati
3. Anything by Marcel Khalife (Jadal is probably his most technical album)
4. Anything by Munir Bachir
5. Anything by Maze el Din( Especially Al oud)
6. Any Naseer shama or Charbel Rouhana Albums is great
7. Any Simon Shaheen album is great( Turath is a good traditional Album)

And I think a pointer to you would be is who cares if the album is greato legendary. If it interests you or appeals to your style, check it out. Since you say your location is midwest, I am not sure how close you are to any good sources of arabic music. I have ameoba records here in san francisco, but maybe you can do some research and take a trip up to dearborn michigan(the arab american capotal) and see if any musicians are still available to help you explore all aspects of arabic music.

Very helpful list and I appreciate the pointer, Palestine 48.

Be well, and thanks,
Don

Brian Prunka - 9-3-2005 at 10:41 PM

I don't know about "essential" lists, but here's some recommendations of good stuff:

despite the cheesy covers, the "bellydance" albums of Farid and Abdel Wahab have a lot of classic tunes/performances and are easily found through maqam.com

Unfortunately, Simon Shaheen's Abdel Wahab tribute album is out of print . . . it's full of great versions of the music.

There's a great album of taqasim by Riad al Sounbati

a good recording of Samais in Egyptian style is Salah Arram (old recording, avail. from Rashid.com)

The Farid and Asmahan stuff is all great.

Oum Kulthoum (many variant spellings) has too many classics to count but here are a few:
Enta Omri
Daret al Ayam
Hayyart albi Maak
Amal Hayati
Lissa Faker
Alf Leila Wa Leila
Min Elli A'al
Ifrah ya Qalbi (or 'Albi)
Serat El Hob

There's an album called "cedre" by Ensemble Morkos that's excellent.
Jihad Racy's album "Mystical Legacies" is very good.

for Marcel Khalife, my favorite stuff is the earlier recordings:
al ard ya hukum, al hudud, ajmal al ummahaat, allah yinajjina mnil aati, wu3ud min al 3aasifah
most of these are hard to find in the U.S.

Sabah Fakhri is a great singer of Muwashshahat and Mawwals. CDs can be hard to find.

If you want a lot of oud, Afif Taian, Ziryab Trio, Samir Joubran are good choices.

Of course, Ziad Rahbani's "Bil Afrah" is a must-have.

Ahmed al-Hifnawi & Sami Shawa are legendary violinists . . .

the people at Maqam.com and Rashid.com are both really helpful and are happy to recommend particular recordings.

Jonathan - 9-4-2005 at 05:04 AM

Udi Hrant--The Early Years, Volume 1 (on Traditional Crossroads Records) and
Udi Hrant (Traditional Crossroads, CD 4265)
Not Arabic, but Turkish. One of the most brilliant players of Turkish oud music.

Jonathan - 9-4-2005 at 05:34 AM

Udi Yorgo Bacanos. Another great player from the Turkish school. All the compilations out there are pretty similar, and it is tough to go wrong with any of them.
As far as the suggestions by Palestine and the others, I am as interested as you, because my knowledge of Arabic music is pretty small, but I am really starting to get into it.
Any chance you can put down some cd or lp titles to look for, rather than just "anything by". I picked up some Farid stuff, most of which I just love, but the operetta type material is not exactly tops as far as a recommendation for somebody that want to learn more about the oud (although the music is beautiful).

palestine48 - 9-4-2005 at 07:40 AM

I have the simon shaheen, abdel wahab tribute cd. i can email u the tracks. is easier if u set up a gmail account. plus the record shop where i found it has an extra copy i think. I found it there twice.

Rami

Amos - 9-5-2005 at 08:09 AM

Hi DD,
My favorite oud player is Richard Hagopian. He is an Armenian-American musicological genius as well as one of the finest uplayers of the oud today. His style is distinct and unique, and incredibly full. His albums can be found on Traditional Crossroads. Also, Cinucen Tanrikorur and Afif Taian are wonderful choices too. Amos

DD - 9-5-2005 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by palestine48
I have the simon shaheen, abdel wahab tribute cd. i can email u the tracks. is easier if u set up a gmail account. plus the record shop where i found it has an extra copy i think. I found it there twice.

Rami

I appreciate your kind offer, Rami. Unfortunately, where I live way out in the countryside, my dial-up connection is so slow that it takes hours just to download a small sound sample. I don't know where your record shop is, but perhaps I could access it somehow? I would love to have that cd. Please let me know if there is any chance of my obtaining that extra copy at your record shop; otherwise I'm sure I'll get hold of it one way or another!

Thank you and take care,
Don

palestine48 - 9-5-2005 at 11:52 AM

You can call street light records on 24th st. in san francisco, CA. number is (415) 282-3550. Ask em if they have it in their middle eastern section under simon shaheen. its a used cd. Or I can take my chances and try to pick it up when i go down there and sell it to you.

Rami

Jonathan - 9-5-2005 at 04:49 PM

Amazon.com has it, but it is priced through the roof ($98, used).

Jonathan - 9-5-2005 at 05:11 PM

OK, here are my 10 favorite oud cd's. I know the list leans almost entirely on Armenian and Turkish music, and particularly on Armenian players, but I guess that is just how it is. A little closer to my heart, I guess.
1.. Udi Hrant. The Early Years Volume I Traditional Crossroads CD 4270. The most beautiful taksims I have ever heard.
2. Udi Hrant. The Early Years Volume II Traditional Crossroads CD 4271. Nowhere near the quality of the first volume. I wish they did not re-issue some of the material on this disc--much better choices could have been made. Still, it contains Hastayim Yasiyorum, which is brilliant, and some other superb tracks.
3. Udi Hrant. Traditional Crossroads 4265. A relatively new release. The beauty of Hrant's playing just shines through. Informal, never meant to be released. Man, I love this cd.
4. Udi Yorgo Bacanos. Traditional Crossroads 4287. Brilliant, brilliant taksims. Completely different style than Hrant, but his playing is just superb.
5. Marko Melkon. Traditional Crossroads 4281. This was a great player who I think still does not get his due. His taksims are great. He has one LP out there, though, that is nothing special.
6. Houdi Hrant. (Yes, that is really Udi Hrant, just spelled differently). Master of the Oriental Lute. LP on Aries. Tough to find, but some of the music on here, particularly Ninni, I will always love.
7. Kef Time Tradtional Crossroads 4269. Armenian and Turkish folk music. Simple tunes, played brilliantly. The clarinet on these tracks, by Hachig Kazarian, is also just amazing.
8. John Bilezikjian. The Magic of John Bilezikjian. Dantz Records 1008. All Turkish music. Superb playing.
9. John Bilezikjian. Music from the Armenian Diaspora. DantzRecords 809. I am limiting the Bilezikjian records to 2, but you cannot go wrong with any of his music. He has several all-Arabic cds, too, that are awesome.
10. Richard Hagopian. Live at the Seventh Veil. An out-of-print LP that should be re-issued (but get rid of the canned applause at the end of every track).

Jonathan - 9-5-2005 at 05:16 PM

Ah, sorry. Tried to limit it to 10, but here are 4 more:
Masters of Turkish Music UD on Kalan Muzik. If old and scratchy 78s are a turn-off, forget it, but the music is great.
And, there is a newer artist, Cagrihan Erkan, that has a cd called Kasirga that is awesome. Finally, Yurdal Tokcan has 2 cds that are really good.
I promise, I will not list any more.

DD - 9-5-2005 at 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by palestine48
You can call street light records on 24th st. in san francisco, CA. number is (415) 282-3550. Ask em if they have it in their middle eastern section under simon shaheen. its a used cd. Or I can take my chances and try to pick it up when i go down there and sell it to you.

Rami

Whoo! Found it on vinyl! I listen to LPs whenever I can get them. If you or others would like a pure analog version recorded using high-end turntable and cassette equipment, let me know, and also let me know if you will be playing it on a Nakamichi or on another kind of tape deck (Nakamichi recording is best with Nakamichi playback; if you're not listening on a Nak, I'll record on a Revox B215.)

Thank you again for all of your posts,
Don

DD - 9-5-2005 at 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jonathan
Ah, sorry. Tried to limit it to 10, but here are 4 more:
Masters of Turkish Music UD on Kalan Muzik. If old and scratchy 78s are a turn-off, forget it, but the music is great.
And, there is a newer artist, Cagrihan Erkan, that has a cd called Kasirga that is awesome. Finally, Yurdal Tokcan has 2 cds that are really good.
I promise, I will not list any more.

Don't you dare limit your lists! The material you've contributed is fabulous! I can't get enough, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Go for it!

Deep thanks,
Don

Jonathan - 9-6-2005 at 06:09 AM

DD--I understand your love for vinyl. People don't understand how great it can sound. Same thing with shellac. Those old 78s can sound awesome if they are played right.

Jameel - 9-6-2005 at 06:44 AM

Don't forget "Taqasim" with Shaheen and Racy. It's Shaheen's only taqasim album, and it's fabulous. Also, it's a bit belly-dance-ish, but Said Salam Play Oud is great album for old-school sharqee-style playing. And ditto Brian's recommendation for Bil Afrah, one of my top 5 favorite album's of all time.

jazzchiss - 9-7-2005 at 12:35 AM

To no repeat already mentioned artists, I want to remember the Algerian singer KHAZNADJI who has albums of Noubas really remarkable. And what voice! For example:

ALGERIE : ANTHOLOGIE DE LA MUSIQUE ARABO-ANDALOUSE VOLUME 2/CANA'A D'ALGER ET NUBA GHRIB
Interprète(s) MOHAMED KHAZNADJI, VOCAL AVEC ACCOMPAGNEMENT, MUSTAPHA BAHAR, MANDOLINE, MOHAMED BAHAR, QUWAYTARA, BOUDJEMAA FERGANE, QANUN, MOKDAD ZERROUKI KAMENDJI, ALTO (INSTR), NOURREDINE SAOUDI KAMENDJI, ALTO (INSTR), HAKIM KHEDIM, UD, AREZKI SAIDI, DARABUKKA, SAADI FATEH, NAY, SI ABER BELKACEM, TAR (TAMBOUR), Genres INSTRUMENTAL, ALGERIE, MUSIQUE SAVANTE, ARABO ANDALOU, SOLO, QUWAYTARA, QANUN, UD, NAYDate 1991/11
( OCORA , OCRA , C 560003 , CD)

See more on: http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-culture2/dossiers/algerie/...

umut - 9-8-2005 at 10:10 AM

i would add two other recordings, both examples of turkish style oud.

one is munir nurettin beken, art of the turkish oud.
i think munir nurettin has a great technique and his cd offers a good collection of turkish (instrumental) music played by oud. plus, the liner notes in his cd, i found, are quite succint and useful.

the second is necati celik, yasemin. this is an amazing cd where celik performs exceptionally both in terms of technique and soul. he offers earlier compositions such as tamburi cemil bey's semais, as well as more recent compositions from well known composers of turkish music such as resat aysu.

i guess both albums could be found on http://www.tulumba.com

regards

DD - 9-8-2005 at 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jameel
Don't forget "Taqasim" with Shaheen and Racy. It's Shaheen's only taqasim album, and it's fabulous. Also, it's a bit belly-dance-ish, but Said Salam Play Oud is great album for old-school sharqee-style playing. And ditto Brian's recommendation for Bil Afrah, one of my top 5 favorite album's of all time.

I appreciate the contributions and the perspective, Jameel. You know, I can't help but wonder what those other 4 favorite albums are! Might you fill us in?

DD - 9-8-2005 at 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by palestine48

5. Anything by Maze el Din( Especially Al oud)

Hi Rami. I'm consolidating the different posts into a single list, and I just wanted to make sure: Is the Maze el Din in your list the same person as Hamza el Din? Thanks.

DD - 9-8-2005 at 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by umut
i would add two other recordings, both examples of turkish style oud.

one is munir nurettin beken, art of the turkish oud.
i think munir nurettin has a great technique and his cd offers a good collection of turkish (instrumental) music played by oud. plus, the liner notes in his cd, i found, are quite succint and useful.

the second is necati celik, yasemin. this is an amazing cd where celik performs exceptionally both in terms of technique and soul. he offers earlier compositions such as tamburi cemil bey's semais, as well as more recent compositions from well known composers of turkish music such as resat aysu.

i guess both albums could be found on http://www.tulumba.com

regards

Invaluable annotated contributions, Umu. I was able to find the Necati Celik album at Tulumba, but I was unable to locate the Munir Nurretin Beken album there or at Maqam or Rashid. If any other possibilities occur to you, I'd love to hear.

Thank you,
Don

DD - 9-8-2005 at 11:25 AM

OOPS. Sorry for the typo in your name, Umut; I hope "umu" doesn't mean something strange in the mother tounge!

Warm regards,
Don

umut - 9-8-2005 at 03:04 PM

hi don,
no problem about the typo

umu doesn't mean anything anyway.
i was able to find munir nurettin beken on the amazon.com too.
or you can check goldenhorn.com.

when i last checked, amazon seemed to have two more copies of beken...

best
umut

DD - 9-8-2005 at 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by umut
hi don,
no problem about the typo

I never even thought of checking at Amazon!