Charbel Rouhana “Art of the Middle Eastern Oud” ARC Music,2004
“There is still room for original, authentic music that anchors us in our roots, preserves
our musical identity, and inspires meditation, contemplation, and elation.” This, said
by Lebanese oud player Rouhana in the notes, is a good shorthand description of the
music. All tracks composed by CR, who also sings (7, 11). Though the title only refers
to the oud, there are many(14) accompanying instruments and vocalists who contribute
to the beauty of this music. More of this ilk in the library, ‘Jahal’(CR+Marcel Khalife).
Faves: 5 ,7, 8,12, 14, 16 (Dr D 08-04)
(All track titles and times on back of case)
1 Slow, dreamy. Nara is a piece of oak charcoal used to light the water pipe, the sound of which opens the
piece. Music flows as if there is more than tobacco in the pipe
2 Slow,melodic. Homage to the best Iranian pipe tobacco
3 Slow, plaintive, almost hear wailing but no vox
4 Med, danceable, includes a popular Syrian melody
5 Med, lilting, describing a marine landscape region of Beirut, felicitous
6 starts slow, picks up near the end. Improv interplay betw. Violin and oud
7 Slow, stately. Vocal nr end, several voices join in. Famous Samai used as doulab (intro)
8 Vocal, med, all about the role of singing in our lives.Very trad sound, ululations, pitch shifting
9 Slow, another landscape, filmic travel through tourist areas of Lebanon,
10Slow, lament for lost friends, lost ways, lost innocence. Sad but beautiful
11 Med/slow, melody demonstrates structure of the samai, compositional form
12Med, dancey, includes accordion solo cuz CR’s father found joy in its sound--bouncy
13Slow, stately requiem for one of CR’s students who died in an electrical accident
14Med/fast, oud tour de force dedicated to all oud students, especially his own
15Med, dancey, very trad sound. Swoopy violin, lots of note bending by all, swirling
16 Med/fast .Vocal,both solo and chorus. Trad sound and rhythmic structure. CR calls it ‘Arab-Oriental’