Guldeste
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oud in film, images, poetry, literature
Dear collective wisdom,
I'm researching the oud in film, poetry and literature. Can you help? I know about "Do Not Forget Me Istanbul", and have seen mention of a film called
Al Oud on this site (but I know nothing about it...) It's not so much the documentary/musical side I'm looking for (although that would be interesting
too). My main curiosity at this stage is in the oud in stories/metaphors. Any examples would be great to hear about. Many thanks!
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SamirCanada
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Do you want only English film, literature and poetry?
It goes without saying that you will find lots in Arabic.
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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Guldeste
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All languages good. I'm glad to read what you say - I asked a friend who publishes Arabic literature and he said he'd never come across the oud in a
novel!
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Jono Oud N.Z
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The oud is common in the 1001 Arabian Nights classic stories.
Henry George Farmer wrote a couple of very interesting articles on music and instruments in the Nights.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25221976?uid=3738776&uid=...
Also the oud features in the Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz.
http://www.amazon.com/Cairo-Trilogy-Palace-Everymans-Library/dp/037...
There is a very famous story of the Sassanian singer and barbat player Barbad in the Shahnameh (Persian Book of Kings) as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Shahnameh-Persian-Book-Kings/dp/0143104934
Are these examples appropriate for what you are looking for?
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Guldeste
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This is exactly the sort of thing. Thanks so much! It's a great start.
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David.B
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My favorite story from the 1001 Arabian Nights -> http://books.google.fr/books?id=Z3A7AAAAcAAJ&pg=PR13-IA4&dq...
XXXVe nuit. (oud = luth)
Really erotic 
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Guldeste
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Great tip! I think this may be a recurring theme 
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David.B
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No, not really. Antoine Galland has touched many texts and some are pure inventions, especially those used as stories for children ("Aladdin's Lamp"
and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"). There's huge difference when you read "The Story of the Porter and the Three Ladies" which is more than erotic,
I would say it's sadomasochistic -> http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/Vol_1/tale3.htm
But we're digressing ...
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David.B
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Crossing the bridge (the sound of Istanbul) -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIyMhjgaMa4
OSS 117 : Le Caire, nid d'espions -> http://vimeo.com/49085923
Kaamelott "Le oud" -> http://www.w9.fr/serie-kaamelott/videos/5206-le_oud.html
Kaamelott "Le oud II" -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba84HIwg-cg
Sounds of Oud -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCe7rmYlh48
Halfaouine, l'enfant des terrasses -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=202BEn6dcZc
And so many films from Egypt -> http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3nn6i_farid-el-atrache-gamil-gama...
But when do you want to start? The first representation of a oud seems to be older than 5000 years! -> http://www.amukhtar.com/en/a/a5.html
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David.B
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“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it
rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not
from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they
quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand
together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's
shadow.”
― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Finally, this quote is appropriate before Easter:
"Fasting
There's hidden sweetness in the stomach's emptiness.
We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox
is stuffed full of anything, no music.
If the brain and belly are burning clean
with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire.
The fog clears, and new energy makes you
run up the steps in front of you.
Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry.
Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.
When you're full of food and drink, Satan sits
where your spirit should, an ugly metal statue
in place of the Kaaba. When you fast,
good habits gather like friends who want to help.
Fasting is Solomon's ring. Don't give it
to some illusion and lose your power,
but even if you have, if you've lost all will and control,
they come back when you fast, like soldiers appearing
out of the ground, pennants flying above them.
A table descends to your tents,
Jesus' table.
Expect to see it, when you fast, this table
spread with other food, better than the broth of cabbages."
Djalâl ad-Dîn Rûmî (1207 - 1273)
etc.
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alim
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There is a Moroccan movie revolved around the Oud "The Fifth String" (haven't seen it though):
http://www.starsdumaroc.com/cinema/la-5eme-corde-selma-bargach-mega...
Ali-
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Guldeste
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What a great range - thanks so much!
No idea where to "start"... just opening the door at the moment.
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hartun
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you mentioned "images" in the title line....in Armenian manuscripts of the Bible, King David is often depicted playing an oud (or baglama) rather than
a harp...unfortunately i cant find any examples on the internet
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David.B
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Quote: Originally posted by hartun  | | you mentioned "images" in the title line....in Armenian manuscripts of the Bible, King David is often depicted playing an oud (or baglama) rather than
a harp...unfortunately i cant find any examples on the internet |
Like this?
[file]26517[/file]
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Jono Oud N.Z
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Beautiful! (all of it).
The King David with oud painting is superb. 
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hartun
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yes the king david pic you posted is similar to what i have seen.
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David.B
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This icon is very recent, it must be based on what you've seen.
Source -> http://eglise-orthodoxe-de-france.fr/atelier_st_luc_st_aubin.htm
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John Erlich
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There is a bit of (very amateur) oud playing in "The Silences of the Palace" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111055/ ), which contrasts interestingly with the Anouar Brahem music used for the soundtrack.
An American movie, "Rachel Getting Married" has a teeny snippet (maybe only 1 sec.) of an oud player sitting and playing on steps (Tareq Abboushi?).
I personally can't recommend the movie (found it tedious), but Iraqi-American jazz trumpeter & santour player Amir El Saffar makes a cameo
appearance as well (don't recall if he is playing music on camera, though).
If memory serves, the "making out in the car" scene in "My Big Greek Wedding" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2zyZC1Iqls --@ c.35:30-- features an oud tsifteteli soundtrack. No idea who the performer is.
Also, I'm told Jackie Chan's "Accidental Spy" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDXeePOPB3g ) has a little passage of oud (John Bilezikjian, I've heard) during the Istanbul section. (This has a
reputation as a terrible movie.)
I'll let you know if I think of any others.
Best,
"Udi" John
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Erg
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There is a french film called "La graine et le mulet", in Spain "Cus Cus". There are some performances of a small music band with oud, percusion,
violin an dancer. It's a good film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrZmflGG8-U
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Guldeste
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More treasures! Thanks again, guys. I'm very appreciative!
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