Mike's Oud Forums

SUDAN oud music

Edward Powell - 4-8-2009 at 04:09 AM

I wonder if anyone can point out some great Sudanese oud clips?

Also, does anyone know anything about the history of the oud in Sudan? Mohammed Antar kept telling me that traditionally Egypt and Sudan were always like one country before it was separated after colonization.

I don't think the oud has been in Sudan very long - kind of a newcomer. I wonder what instrument it replaced? How did the oud affect Sudanese music?

Sudanese music: While Yemenese music certainly contains a huge maqam-based microtonal element, Sundanese music seems not to have maqams and "microtones". Of course there are microtones, but not in the sense of recognised microtonal "scale" pitches. It seems mostly pentatonic - more "African"....

Here are some clips I found:

...I like the first one best.
the last one is a "roadmovie" which I like because it helps me to imagine what it must be like to actually be in that country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Unw1nWfxhQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SL3mBOgIM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLMwozsxX-E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2vbZ_r_ko

John Erlich - 4-8-2009 at 08:20 AM

Hi Edward,

I believe you are generally correct about Sudanese music being pentatonic-based, and if I remember correctly the word I've heard and read to describe the scales used is "hamsi" (as in "hamsa").

I highly recommend this, my favorite Sudanese oud/vocal recording: http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Sudan-Mustafa-Al-Sunni/dp/B00000IXIL Very "African" and great "night music."

According the Sudanese music article in Wikipedia (definately to be taken with a "grain of salt"), the oud displaced the tambour, i.e., something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GpLnO8yoek and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2fwlOONLwg

Peace,
John

Edward Powell - 4-8-2009 at 08:42 AM

YES! I have that mustafa CD... it is EXCELLENT!

Thanks for those clips! So you figure the oud is desplacing this tambour....? Interesting. Seems the oud is Arabizing much of North Africa....

John Erlich - 4-8-2009 at 02:02 PM

Hi Edward,

The comment about oud displacing the tambour in Sudan came from the Wikipedia article. I find Wikipedia very informative, but always seek corroborating sources.

Peace,
John

abusin - 4-8-2009 at 02:08 PM

Hi Ed,

When I commented on your Sudan tune it struck a chord in my soul, it's the connection my friend and its the blood Sudan is my roots buddy and where I was born :xtreme:
I don't think the oud has displaced the tambour in in any way, as this have a strong tribal connections deeply rooted in the Sudanese culture, and more in place than the oud. As the latter introduced through the Egyptians / Turkish armies musical bands and afterwards during the modern Sudanese music era around the 1920's if not before.. But most the tribes who adopted the tambor clung to it to this day and it has a cultural significance and status.. and Within the vast Sudanese ethnic rainbow which exceeds the 800 different tribe and ethnicity, is tuned and played differently.
As for the Oud, specially from the 50's to this date is picking up the pace and its popularity is becoming evident.

The oud came to Sudan with the Turkish, Egyptians and Syrians during the Anglo Egyptian and Turkish occupation.. I cannot precisely say when exactly but around that time, I'll try and get you more info, as John mentioned above the Khomasi is the flavour of the music and yes it pentatonic.

No a days with youtube and the internet you can get more info in regard to the Sudanese music and the oud if you do a search for Sudanese music.

I'll attach a few links here:

Lets not forget the master of the Nubian Sudanese oud, may his soul rest in peace :
Hamza Eldin

Mhammed Al Amin

Mohammed Wardi, the other great Nubian legend

Ahmed Al Mustafa

There are more to come Ed,

Cheers

abusin - 4-8-2009 at 02:27 PM

Also Ed, Naseer Shama have just opened a Sudanese extension for Bait Al Oud recently ;)
Hanan Alneel

Mustafa Al Sunni

More Hamza

And this is the king of Sudanese melody, Awad Ahmodi,
Awad Ahmodi

Watch the risha style, awesome :xtreme:

Edward Powell - 4-9-2009 at 01:04 AM

ABUSIN!
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! This is a great education!
I incredibly love this sudanese music! ...that risha style is bizaar!

Hey, Hamsa seems to be doing Rast maqam sort of.... I guess Nubia is a melting ground btw Egypt and Sudan... ?

I wonder if there are any purists out there who resent the oud coming into Sudan - - - the way some of us don't like fretted guitars encroaching into oudland...:cool:

THANKS AGAIN, and please post more if you have time!

John Erlich - 4-10-2009 at 09:14 AM

While we are on the subject of Africa, I want to recommend this CD highly:

http://www.amazon.com/Swahili-Song-Book-Zein-lAbdin/dp/B00004W5AV/r...

I like these two, as well, but can't give them as unreserved a recommendation:

http://www.amazon.com/Taarab-Vol-1-Music-Zanzibar/dp/B00001R3J9/ref...

http://www.systemrecords.co.uk/mohamed-hassan-duniya-p-969285.html

Peace,
John

DaveH - 4-10-2009 at 09:34 AM

Hi John, and sorry Edward, for temporarily hijacking your thread.

I posted on another thread asking how it was possible to get hold of Zein l'Abdin's Swahili Songbook. It seems it's out of print and the only place I can see it is on Amazon for $99. Do you know of another source, or, given it's out of print, is there another way of getting hold of it digitally??

John Erlich - 4-10-2009 at 02:15 PM

Hi Dave,

I feel your pain. It's selling for 134 quid on Amazon.UK...has the CD been gold-plated?

I found a downloadable here (scroll about 1/3 of the way down): http://www.zona-musical.com/postt70662.html

And here: http://rapidlibrary.com/download_file_i.php?qq=songbook&file=28...

Best,
John

Kelly - 4-11-2009 at 02:12 PM

Hey Awad, Edward and John

Dont forget Mohammed Aziz al Mubarak, especially early Sounds of Sudan recording and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonXksmbf8g

Edward Powell - 4-12-2009 at 01:38 AM

Cool, thanks!