Mike's Oud Forums

Arabic kanuns for progressive playing

bulerias1981 - 3-22-2018 at 11:35 AM

Hello everyone. I know this is not oud related however I'm glad to announce the making of 2 Arabic kanuns I finished in my shop. They feature 8 mandels per most strings (instead of 4) which allows you a greater ability to play maqamaat and achieve authentic intonations. These kanuns are based off a nice old Aleppian kanun I restored some years ago.

I started both of these in 2014 and due to some circumstances I wasn't able to complete them until recently. One kanun is sold so far, the other is available. In the future I will continue to make kanuns because.... the sound is so beautiful and after all the work is done, it's rewarding!

In this video Jamal Sinno plays the walnut kanun. He plays bayati and hijaz from E, which is unusual and this demonstrates the flexibility of an 8 mandel system Arabic kanun. You don't have to sacrifice that sweet Arabic sound by going with a Turkish kanun to achieve the microtonal system progressive Arabic kanuns need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBe7eYkhFSE




Doc139 - 3-22-2018 at 01:17 PM

Beautiful instruments and sound - and nice playing in the video - congratulations John, great job!
Alexander

John Erlich - 3-22-2018 at 09:42 PM

Nice work, John! Makes me wish I was a serious qanoun player with a really well-paying day job! ;=)

Alfaraby - 3-23-2018 at 10:58 AM

Bravo John
This's your graduation certificate as an accomplished LUTHIER .. Hurray !!
Arn't there some fingerprints of mine ?
:)

Good luck

Yours indeed
Alfaraby