zalzal - 10-30-2007 at 11:17 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOFaJ-L0j1I
gilgamesh - 10-30-2007 at 02:44 PM
Is that the Headless Oudist of the Incredible String Circus, and how feed it?
Sazi - 10-30-2007 at 05:49 PM
Wow, the Jimi Hendrix of oud! I just tried that, a bit of a stretch but the bass resonse of the oud through the back of the head is amazing!
jdowning - 10-31-2007 at 03:54 AM
Mary Burwell, a skilled amateur lutenist of the 17th C wrote in her lute book " It is a disgrace for the lute to play country dances, songs or
courants of violins as likewise to play tricks with one's lute - to play behind the back etc. The lute is a noble instrument not made for
debaucheries, ranting or playing in the streets."
The same sentiment applies to the oud I imagine - but a lot of fun though!!
SamirCanada - 10-31-2007 at 05:29 AM
Iam going to venture and say that in Affrica and in the Arabian Gulf.
The oud is often seen in the street and the playing is verry rythmic. Its not uncomon to see ouds that are not carred for and full of scratches. Very
much a party instrument.
I think in Iraq, Turkey and the levant ( lebanon, syria, palestine etc...) the oud has taken more of a true classical instrument. Although its can
still be seen in the street from time to time.
Egypt... well its at the crossroads so you will see both of these influences.
Iam not familiar with the countries of the Maghreb but I suspect that since they have long european influence it could be similar to the levant.
jdowning - 10-31-2007 at 07:06 AM
The odd thing is that - despite the remarks by Burwell - lute tablatures published since the first decade of the 16th C contain lots of dance music.
Perhaps she differentiated between country dances and courtly dances? Nevertheless, as the lute is a "quiet" instrument compared to the oud played
with a plectrum (which can hold its own in an orchestra comprising louder instruments such as violins or percussion as well as out of doors), it is
hard to imagine how a lute could be heard by a group of dancers in even a small dance hall - but there is no doubt that they were used to accompany
dancing to judge from the late 16th C. /early 17th C Italian dance manuals.
This is getting off topic but anyone interested in Italian dance music and dance protocol of the late 16th C there are three books in facsimile for
free download at http://www.pbm.com these being "Il Ballarino" 1581 and "Nobilita di Dame" 1600 by Fabritio Caroso and "Le gratie d'Amore" 1602 by Cesare Negri -
beautiful books full of music in both tablature and staff notation. All text in 16th C Italian.
Be warned that the pdf files are large to download - ranging from 21MB to 62MB. I got a friend who has a high speed connection to download the files
and print them up for me on his commercial laser printer.
Sazi - 10-31-2007 at 03:08 PM
Where I live we have a lot of tourists coming every day, often I take out my el cheapo Turkish ud and busk or just play bellydance music with my
girlfriend who plays darabuka & they love it , (so do I)! , as do all the local shopkeepers, saying it lifts the whole "vibe" of the street, and
the smiles on peoples faces makes it all worth while, even if we don't make much money, 
I would'nt take out a decent instrument though...!