Mike's Oud Forums

Strong Ouds - fact or fiction?

jdowning - 9-26-2007 at 09:23 AM

I have just noticed in reading page 1 of the 'Abraham Oud for Mike' project, a question was raised by MathewW concerning the strength of an oud. Question - is it possible to stand on the bowl of a well made oud without breaking the instrument? The answer is - yes! I recall seeing a film made around 1977 of an oud maker doing just that. The completed instrument was supported face down on wooden blocks and the maker then stood on the bowl with no apparent ill effect to the oud. The demonstration was witnessed by lute player Anthony Rooley - who was on tour of the Middle East for the making of the film - so there was no obvious trickery involved. But don't try this at home!
I recently tried to track down a copy of the film as I have no doubt that it would be of interest to forum members but have 'drawn a blank' so far.

Ronny Andersson - 9-27-2007 at 09:07 AM

John, I remember this program very well and I recorded it the first and only time it was broadcasted in Swedish television (25 years ago...). In this program one can see Anthony Rooley and Emma Kirkby visiting and giving lute songs recitals in Cairo. The oud maker standing on a bowl is Gamil George! One can also see George Michel and couple of other oud players all from Cairo. I recall one virtuosi having semi tone frets on his oud…There are also some scenes of the reconstruction of the Cantiga oud/lute by a UK based lute maker. I can try to transfer the vhs video to my pc and upload it!

Jameel - 9-27-2007 at 10:07 AM

Ronny,

I for one would love to see this video. Please post it.

Issa Boulos told me once about this, and I frankly didn't believe him. So I'm very interested to see this video.

Thanks!

jdowning - 9-27-2007 at 01:41 PM

Great news Ronny. That is the film that I am talking about - it's a small world! I look forward to seeing the video again after all of these years - if you are able to digitise and upload it.
Thanks
John

MatthewW - 9-28-2007 at 05:13 AM

Hey this is quite interesting! So there seems to be some fact to being able to stand on a well made oud without causing damage to the bowl after all ( unless it was Jameel who was standing on it! ;) ) I too would like to see this video Ronny! :D

SamirCanada - 9-28-2007 at 07:44 AM

I have a secret...
when I took appart my very first oud. I needed to break it into peices so it would fit into the garbage. It was a horrible peice of junk. The bowl wasnt exactly well made.
and so I did try to stand on it.
I was probaly 210 lbs then... and guess what
no breakage...
so I though maybe jumping on it would do it.
I did... I heard a CRACK but it still took about 5 jumps untill it gave way compleetly.

MatthewW - 9-28-2007 at 09:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada
I have a secret...
when I took appart my very first oud. I needed to break it into peices so it would fit into the garbage. It was a horrible peice of junk. The bowl wasnt exactly well made.
and so I did try to stand on it.
I was probaly 210 lbs then... and guess what
no breakage...
so I though maybe jumping on it would do it.
I did... I heard a CRACK but it still took about 5 jumps untill it gave way compleetly.



hey Samir, by any chance did you video this interesting event? ;)

Jameel - 9-28-2007 at 03:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MatthewW
Hey this is quite interesting! So there seems to be some fact to being able to stand on a well made oud without causing damage to the bowl after all ( unless it was Jameel who was standing on it! ;) ) I too would like to see this video Ronny! :D


First I'm bald, now I'm fat too?? You guys are brutal. :cool:

carpenter - 9-28-2007 at 03:29 PM

Fat? I believe the amply-upholstered set prefers "voluptuous" these days. Bald, I have - ahem - no comment.

I think there's an arch at work here, engineering-wise. Arches held up the Roman Empire, and they didn't have Samir to help with the destructive testing (quite the mental picture ...).

SamirCanada - 9-28-2007 at 03:38 PM

what can I say?... it needed to fit in the dumpster.
I think it had been made out of fire wood in the first place :)

jdowning - 9-28-2007 at 06:53 PM

Not quite as dramatic - but I did once (accidentally) drop one of my lutes on to a concrete floor - my initial horror and panic giving way to admiration and relief as the instrument bounced like a tennis ball across the room. Managed to crack a rib (on the lute!) in the process but 30 years 'down the road' that instrument now sounds better than it ever did.
Could this be the 'secret' of how ouds are made into master instruments - not through careful selection of rare materials, outstanding workmanship or delicate adjustments to the barring layout - just jump on 'em before they leave they shop?