Mike's Oud Forums

Charbel Rouhana's al-Oud, a Modern Method Book

samzayed - 2-7-2004 at 12:31 PM

Does anyone know where I can purchase Charbel Rouhana's oud method book al-Oud, a Modern Method? Maqam.com is out of stock and are doubtful they'll be getting more copies.

This book has great excercises from what I hear.

Alan - 2-7-2004 at 01:08 PM

I think http://www.maqam.com has it

samzayed - 2-7-2004 at 01:27 PM

Maqam.com has Book 2 and 3, but are out of stock on Book 1. They don't think they'll be getting more in. I guess I can start with Book 2, since I am beyone beginning stage.

Does anyone have any feedback on these books?

Book 1

David Parfitt - 2-9-2004 at 02:01 AM

Hi Sam

I have Book 1 of Charbel Rouhana's method. It is very nicely presented and does contain a lot of exercises. However, the approach is very 'Western', in that most of the book is devoted to major and minor scales, with only a brief mention of maqams. This may be developed further in Books 2 and 3 though.

It depends what you are looking for. If you want to learn to play like Charbel Rouhana then it is probably very useful, but for a more traditional style of playing you will still need to find a teacher or learn by ear from recordings.

Best wishes

David

nadir - 2-9-2004 at 11:07 AM

ebay has the book now, but the time will run out in a few hours...

Zulkarnain - 2-9-2004 at 06:58 PM

Guys does the book contain any Audio CD for extra references?

Im thinking of buying the whole set. Thanks

samzayed - 2-9-2004 at 11:42 PM

David, thanks for your feedback! I'm not neccessarily trying to play like Charbel Rouhana, but I am looking for excercises and drills that will improve my dexterity and speed. I guess any piece in the classical repetoire can give me this, but I've heard a lot of great things about Rouhana's oud method book.

Where did you get this book David? Maqam.com is out of stock indefinitely. I may just take a chance on Volume 2 and see what it has to offer. I am more of an advanced player than a beginner so maybe it is for the best. . .

David Parfitt - 2-10-2004 at 12:12 AM

Hi

I bought the book from Mr Rouhana at the oud meeting in Thessaloniki. Unfortunately it does not contain any pieces from the classical repertoire (possibly due to copyright??), only pieces written by Rouhana himself. I guess that you would be able to progress quite easily to Book 2 though, as Book 1 is quite basic.

Hope this is some help.

David

P.S. I'm afraid it doesn't come with any CDs, Zul - at least my copy didn't. :(

Zulkarnain - 2-10-2004 at 01:49 AM

Hi

Dave incase you come across any instructional oud book that come with enhanced CD please let me know ok. Anything as long as with audio cd will be fine.

Thanks

Salam

spyros mesogeia - 2-10-2004 at 03:26 AM

If it was with cd it will be wonderfull....:(
They should know about that....I mean,there are many person that they don't have the possibility to have near them a teacher,and they really need it.....
I hope that one day it will be a reality....conservatoires all over the world for the eastern instruments,as it is for the western instruments.....
I really hope that....
Regards

samzayed - 2-10-2004 at 10:21 AM

Hi David,

I don't supoose you have an e-mail address or any other contact info for Charbel Rouhana?

I appreciate your help!

David Parfitt - 2-10-2004 at 10:41 AM

Sorry Sam, afraid I don't.

Best wishes

David

newlife_ks - 10-30-2016 at 02:48 AM

Lately I read somewhere that a new revised oud method by Charbel Rouhana is on its way. Does anyone know about that, maybe even where I can buy it in Germany?

Klaus

suz_i_dil - 11-1-2016 at 12:23 PM

Indeed seems a revised one just went edited.
No idea of were to find it online, seems not available on neel wa furat but maybe too early

http://newspaper.annahar.com/article/465420-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8...

suz_i_dil - 11-2-2016 at 01:46 PM

Presentation of the new edited book by our fellow member Fadhel
Seems great :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN6Ht4aB05k

Having following lessons i think the miss of this kind of book is some explanations about pieces: thoughts about the developpement of the maqam, and more pieces out of samay and longas to learn rythms and some rythm modulation...ok ok need to keep some work for our teachers :)

All in all this one seems really great and promising of a wide musical journey !

newlife_ks - 11-3-2016 at 06:49 AM

I did a search on the web and found a shop at hawamusic.net in Lebanon.

Hawamusic

I ordered both books for 37$ each, 74$ for both. Ok. Only available with credit card which I haven't. Shipping cost would be 73$! Finally I asked data for a bank transfer and got them. My bank wants additional 50 Euros (I'm from Germany) for the money transfer. That's about 200$. I gave up and cancelled my order. The price for the books is fine, but the additional charges are way too much for me. I hope the books will find their way to Europe and the rest of the world. Having them shipped from Lebanon is no fun. Not for me. Anybody willing to pay so much?

Klaus

suz_i_dil - 11-3-2016 at 10:57 AM

thanks for sharing the link

indeed, even if the books price reasonnable, that's an amount to get them in hand inside Europe
Maybe a solution will happen soon. Those books have the potential to become reference books and, with the text in english, maybe they will be more widely distributed. They are still very new, from october.

Regards

Gocauo - 11-7-2016 at 09:53 AM

The price of the books does seem to be very reasonable... however, but shipping is more than the cost of the books $74 for the books and $81 for shipping...that's a bit much.

ALAMI - 11-7-2016 at 12:15 PM

This is ridiculous, there should be a simpler and cheaper way. I will transmit all this thread to a close friend of Charbel and let you know guys

newlife_ks - 11-8-2016 at 01:38 AM

I heard of the books coming before they were published via Charbel's homepage and asked where I could get them. Nadim Rouhana (his son maybe?) answered and promised to keep me informed when and how it would be possible for me to get them. After cancelling the deal with Hawamusic I finally asked them to please bring the books to the european market and worldwide too. On 3rd of November I also told Nadim Rouhana about my hard luck with Hawamusic and asked for other possibilities to get those books, but he did not answer yet. I still hope he will, maybe it just takes some time to find a different way. I'll keep you informed if anything happens.

Klaus

suz_i_dil - 11-9-2016 at 11:10 AM

let's see. Thank you guys

mich - 11-12-2016 at 08:16 AM

So the book has its own Facebook page called Maqam El Oud.
A post there says:

—-----------------------------------------------------—
Dear Oudist,
Our Books "Maqam El Oud" (Volume 1 & Volume 2) are now available Now in all this shops:
* Saint Rafqa Music Institute (ISRM) - Jrabta Batroun 06/720 355
* The Library of The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music 01/500996 (All Branches)
* Library Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - USEK
* Angham Music - Broumana 04/864488
* Hawa Music Adonis - 03/249059
* Music Zone - LaCite Jounieh - 70/672770
* Electro Music shop - Hamra - 01/ 341790
* Abdallah Chahine - Hazmiyeh - 01 548787
* Carl Music - Jal El Dib - 01 896844
* Golden Notes - Ain Remany - 70 933 276
* Osta Music - Mazraet Yechouh - 04 910 744
** Don't hesitate to buy your copy **
—-----------------------------------------------------—

Does anyone's have connections with any of these shops?

newlife_ks - 11-12-2016 at 09:14 AM

That does not help us much, those are towns in Lebanon. What we need is world wide distribution. I wrote an email today to Charbel here:

Charbel

I hope someone will react and give us further clues how to get that method. It can't be Charbel's intention to sell his books only in Lebanon . . .

Klaus

oudistcamp - 11-23-2016 at 03:35 PM

In the USA, the 2 volumes are available from:
Saint Anthony Maronite Catholic Church.
Address: 4611 Sadler Road - Glen Allen - Richmond, Virginia.
ZIP Code: 23060
Tel number: +1 (804) 270-7234

I would give that number a call. There is no website.
They are very thorough and exacting books. Good luck!

mich - 11-26-2016 at 10:46 AM

The contact page on church's website is here:

http://stanthonymaronitechurch.org/contact-us/

Has anyone contacted them? I don't want to bother them if they aren't selling the books....

el-esseily - 1-4-2017 at 03:47 AM

Hi all, for anyone asking about European shipping - I live in the UK and I bought the books by mail order directly from the publishers Institut Sainte Rafqa de Musique. You can contact them at secretariatisrm@gmail.com

The price of the two volumes together was $74, plus shipping cost to UK of $47 (10 to 15 working days in Liban Post service), payable by Western Union which has a very straightforward online interface.


newlife_ks - 1-5-2017 at 02:06 AM

Hello el-esseily!

Thanks for your information!

Is there an existing website? I did not find anything using the name of the institute you gave. I'd like very much having a look into the books before buying. Or can you tell us something about the contents? What is the concept Charbel uses? What are his didactics? Or, maybe, could you post a preview of the indexes? What are your impressions about the books?

A lot of questions for sure, but I hope you can help!

el-esseily - 1-7-2017 at 02:46 AM

Hello newlife - the video review by Fadhel that Suz_i_dil kindly posted in thread is pretty thorough and more than makes up for the lack of other info online! Take a look at the video in HD mode, it will show you all the detail and you'll get a good idea of the contents (including indexes), but let me know if you have questions on any particular aspect.

I've been learning oud for about 3 years with various teachers, and I wish I'd had these books from day 1! They are really methodical and professional. The progressions are very logical and incremental, no gaps or sudden jumps, so I am definitely looking forward to using them for daily self study. Highly recommended!!

newlife_ks - 1-8-2017 at 02:31 AM

Hello el-esseily!

Ok, I contacted the given address for further information. Apart from that I took a closer look at the youtube link. I did not understand a single word, but the contents seem to be very good. Due to the fact that I have no teacher at all this is the only book making sense for daily practise. Thanks again!

newlife_ks - 1-10-2017 at 06:27 AM

Western Union Germany is kind of confusing and inscrutable, I'm not going to make a payment there. Western Union tells me my money will be transferred to an austrian bank first, in addition they say they do not know if my bank will charge me for the transaction. Seems too risky for me, maybe in the end I will end up at 200 Euros as before.

Lebanon. :( No oud method for me I fear. I do not know why they make buying so complicated there. I hope they will sell in european shops before long. Somehow I feel sorry for Charbel. I mean he has done great work, but nobody outside his country can buy his books without paying postage that equals the price of his books!?

Gocauo - 1-10-2017 at 09:32 AM

Got this off of a FB group I am on...

===================
The book is distributed in the US by the Saint Anthony Maronite Catholic Church in Virginia.

To order your copy please send a check or money order to St. Anthony Church, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

For more information you can contact Monsignor George Sebaali at: (804) 270-7234, or email him at: gmsebaali@aol.com or at StAnthonyMaroniteChurch@Verizon.net

The Cost is $40 per volume plus $10 shipping per volume within the U.S.

newlife_ks - 1-10-2017 at 09:55 AM

I'll give it a try, so thanks a lot for posting the addresses! :)

newlife_ks - 1-16-2017 at 11:34 AM

Hawamusic only accepted Western Union transfer for paying. The lady at my Western Union office told me that's very risky for transferring money into that region of the world, she definitely did not recommend that. So this is no option for me even with lesser shipping costs.

Anyway, thanks for the information! Where do you live?

newlife_ks - 1-16-2017 at 11:57 AM

I don't have any credit cards and decided not to get one just for this deal . . . No further use for credit cards . . . Anyway, shipping to Europe obviously works!

newlife_ks - 6-6-2017 at 04:06 AM

Hello Al3Oud!

One question yet - did you have to pay anything for customs?

Matthias - 6-8-2017 at 07:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Al3Oud  
Quote: Originally posted by newlife_ks  
Hello, I did not have to pay a customs fee in Spain.


on that books there are no custom fees, but nomally you should have payed the VAT.
Sometimes this happens that the customs do not ask for this.

Matthias

newlife_ks - 6-8-2017 at 09:43 AM

Hello!

Today my long journey to get this new oud method finally ended. A friend of mine was so kind to make the payment to hawamusic via his Visa Card. I can only say those books are worth every dollar invested! But I can definitely not recommend trying the Sainte Rafqa Institute way who are the publishers of Charbel's books. They try to sell via maronite fathers in their communities, my experiences with them were very unsatisfying, resulting in nothing.
Hawamusic was very fast, I ordered last saturday, and today, on thursday, I had my books in Germany. I highly recommend Hawamusic to other interested players!