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NEW VIDEOS added! Amazing 92 year old forgotten oud legend - Abdel Hamid Abou Feesha

jass - 4-16-2012 at 03:59 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvy1QQmgsWE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCBM39gGZbs&feature=relmfu

ABDEL HAMID ABOU FEESHA:
EGYPT's FORGOTTEN PYRAMID

Born in Shoubra, a suburb of Cairo in Egypt in 1920. Dr. Abdel Hamid Abou Feesha has been playing the oud for close to 80 years and is a local legend, although relatively forgotten in the wider musical community. He claims he has taught the great oud players like Farid el Attrache, Zakaria Ahmad, George Michel, Riyad Al Sunbati and was neighbours with Mohamed Al Qassabji, forming a dear friendship. Great Arabic composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab is said to have had him as a close compositional adviser and you can hear his oud playing and influences on many old Abdel Wahab recordings. He has played with all the greats such as Salih Abdel Hay, Monira Al Mahdiya, Sheikh Sayed Al Safti and even Oum Kalsoum in her early days. An amazing career. Unfortunately, His professional career as an oud virtuoso came to an end after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. He had a very close relationship to King Farouk and he was his personal palace oud player, so after the revolt he was not accepted by his friends and musical peers for being linked to the royal regime. Something he is still coming to terms with.
He is now however, a teaching institution to young up and coming oud players and many visit him for advice, lessons and to listen to him play his old school Egyptian taqasims (modal improvisations) and ofcourse tell stories of the old days...
We were very lucky to visit him, get a brief interview and some samples of his taqasim (improvisations). Despite his age he is still very proficient on the oud, an amazing experience!

Attached is a picture of Abou Feesha in Cairo, 1946, he is playing the same oud today!

ameer - 4-16-2012 at 04:14 PM

Wow. Very nice. Do you know how I might get in touch with him? I plan to go to Israel/Egypt in the fall and it would be an honor to spend a little time with a real living legend so to speak.

spartan - 4-16-2012 at 10:24 PM

The guy in the picture is definately the Great Marko Melkon.

the link is in Greek language but you can find many pictures of him.

http://www.klika.gr/cms/index.php/ar8rografia/ar8ra/290-markos-melkon.html

I'm not so sure, but in the first image of the link above, the back of the oud seems to be an Arabic oud.

And a great song speaking about the refugees/immigrants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_t6tbtaxDY

===========================================

By the way the video of the 92 year old oudist seem fake...

Marina - 4-16-2012 at 11:48 PM

:applause:

jass - 4-17-2012 at 12:07 AM

Could it be Marko in the video? Is he still alive?

Ararat66 - 4-17-2012 at 12:21 AM

Very near April 1st but great playing anyway - who is it really ???

Leon

Hatem_Afandi - 4-17-2012 at 02:54 AM

Too bad Dr. Abou Fischa Didn't demo maqaam Shoushou! :airguitar:

spartan - 4-17-2012 at 03:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by jass

Could it be Marko in the video? Is he still alive?

Marko Melkon was born in 1895 and passed away in 1960.
he lived in USA most of his life and made important and amazing recordings
he was Armenian playing Armenian, Greek and Turkish pieces

===========================================

The video about Abdel Hamid Abou Feesha is FAKE ( It seems that someone wears a mask !)

Besides, I really dont know if an oudist with this name existed, never saw his name, but I'm not a musicologist, or expert in egyptian oud players

jass - 4-17-2012 at 04:21 AM

Dr. Abou Feesha is alive an well...

mavrothis - 4-17-2012 at 05:32 AM

This is really amazing, I can't believe it!

I think I heard about him when I visited Egypt several years ago. Someone had some old taksims on cassette that we listened to.

Really incredible playing, and I just can't believe someone can play like that at that age. Thanks Jass for the link!

FAKE

spyrosc - 4-17-2012 at 06:00 AM

Guys,

Before you get excited please think.

1) The guy in the video says he TAUGHT Farid, etc. Farid was famous in the 30s. If this guy was born in 1920, he would have been a teenager then. How could he be Farid's teacher ?

2) The picture is DEFINITELY Marko Melkon. Besides if it was this guy taken in 1946, the guy in the picture should be 26. Is this the picture of a 26 year-old ?

3) The guy in the video is wearing a mask. He doesn't move his lips, and has a huge bump in his head. A BAD Mask.

Great playing though !

Spyros C.

mavrothis - 4-17-2012 at 06:02 AM

MatthewW - 4-17-2012 at 07:56 AM

I agree with Spryos...and as one youtube viewer commented, these are not the hands of a 92 year old, and I don't think anyone who 'taught' Farid, G. Michel, Sunbati and others would soon be forgotten, even if he lived to 120

jass - 4-17-2012 at 08:08 AM

Perhaps his claims are old man talk, I doubt he taught those guys, but he's probably delusional...Go Abou Feesha!

mavrothis - 4-17-2012 at 08:26 AM

The question is not if Abou Feesha taught Farid el Atrache or not.

The question is, who taught Abou Feesha?

MatthewW - 4-17-2012 at 08:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mavrothis

The question is not if Abou Feesha taught Farid el Atrache or not.

The question is, who taught Abou Feesha?

I think it was BB King....

jass - 4-17-2012 at 08:33 AM

Its actually Habibi King

Mehran - 4-17-2012 at 09:56 AM

Cmon, just listen to it. Its JT.

mavrothis - 4-17-2012 at 10:05 AM

Hehe...

He's not just an incredibly talented oud player...he's also hilarious - and very creative!

m

Microber - 4-17-2012 at 12:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jass

Its actually Habibi King

)

Ararat66 - 4-17-2012 at 12:34 PM

I was wondering if it were JT - it's his channel and he rocks from side to side just like Joe

)

Leon

Danielo - 4-17-2012 at 01:47 PM

No it cannot be - would ever a modern virtuoso like Joe have an old-fashioned oud like this ?

Another clue : try to wear a mask and play a taqsim like this. I tried myself and I cannot - because of the mask I mean

Jono Oud N.Z - 4-17-2012 at 05:56 PM

Excellent conversation! :applause:

LOL

Marko Melkon is a great player though.

londonoudi - 4-17-2012 at 05:58 PM

JT is a great player.

What I want to know is what kind of oud is that?

Oud Freak - 4-18-2012 at 04:31 AM

Of course it is a hoax and more than obvious! However, the idea is lovely!!!
In case one doesn't notice the mask at the beginning, the secret is revealed when we see the young strong fingers, the technique and strength playing are distances far from a 90 year old man from the ooold school.

Anyway great vid!

Fake

spyrosc - 4-18-2012 at 05:34 AM

The thing I like the most about this guy, is he claims he knows all 360 Maqams and then he offers to play for us Maqam SHOUSHOU !

SamirCanada - 4-18-2012 at 10:53 AM

HAHAHA that was hilarious.

I think Abou Feesha should go on tour around the world. With that kind of pedigree he would sell out stadiums

I can just hear the crowds... AZAMA 3ALA AZAMA!!
KHALEENA N'ESMA3 EL SHOUUSHOU!!

mavrothis - 4-18-2012 at 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SamirCanada

HAHAHA that was hilarious.

I think Abou Feesha should go on tour around the world. With that kind of pedigree he would sell out stadiums

I can just hear the crowds... AZAMA 3ALA AZAMA!!
KHALEENA N'ESMA3 EL SHOUUSHOU!!

Hehehe...

He already does tour around the world, just without the mask!

SamirCanada - 4-18-2012 at 11:07 AM

Thats what I meant, wouldn't be freakin awsome if he brought him along for the world to discover this hidden gem.

Maybe a little skit with his brother.

mavrothis - 4-18-2012 at 11:09 AM

I think you're on to something. They are already so funny live, at least when I've seen them - this could be a great addition to their performances.

I think Joe should have his own TV show.

akoud - 4-21-2012 at 11:25 AM

it is fake
the skin of the hand is not 92 years old
the lips dosnt move when he speaks
the voice is not 92 yars old
ho made this thing?

jass - 4-22-2012 at 09:26 AM

New Videos for Abdel Hamid Abou Feesha including a RARE interview on maqams!

Rare Interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQFA2mfAuxs

Taqasim Kord:

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

Taqasim Sikah Huzam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khGKklUJi-w

Enjoy!

suz_i_dil - 4-26-2012 at 12:40 AM

" Egypt's forgotten pyramids " ....

I love it !