John Erlich
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Suggested Songs to Learn by Ear
I know I've posted a lot of music sheets lately, but I also want to make plug for intermediate-level oud players to try to learn songs by ear.
The web page "Ah Ya Salam" has good collections of songs sung by (recently passed) Lebanese singer Wadih El Safi and Syrian singer Sabah Fakhri. Both
singers included in their repertoire a lot of simple songs, such as debkas and "Quddud Halabiyya" (old Aleppan folk songs). Try learning some of these
songs by ear, only using the music sheets if you get stuck, or to check to see if you are hearing the musical passages "correctly."
Wadih El Safi page: http://www.ahyasalam.com/?artistid=19&lang=EN Music sheets included for these songs: http://www.ahyasalam.com/?mode=MUSICSH&artistid=19&lang=EN
Sabah Fakhri page: http://www.ahyasalam.com/?artistid=22&lang=EN Fakhri songs with sheets: http://www.ahyasalam.com/?mode=MUSICSH&artistid=22&lang=EN
Peace out,
"Udi" John
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PaulS
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what a great idea
Really thanks for the links. Would you consider suggesting a top ten?
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John Erlich
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Here are a few suggestions from the Ah Ya Salam page (as they appear on the English language version of the site):
From Wadi El Safi: "Sayjna Lubnan"; "Tallu Hbaabna"; "Ala Dalona"
From Sabah Fakhri: "Ya Mal Esham"; "El Arasiyyah"; "Qadduka Elmayyasu"; "Ya Terah Teiri"
It's not Wadi El Safi nor Sabah Fakhri, but I also heard this relatively simple song today on the site that I liked and want to learn: http://www.ahyasalam.com/play_song.php?songmd=7593f6934142a64614ba3... Maybe I was just tickled that the singer's real name, Lara, is the same as my wife's!
These are shorter songs, not like the Umm Kulthum or Abdul Wahab songs that take up 5 - 20 pages when transcribed.
Many of these tunes do have music sheets available on the site, in case you get stuck.
Happy learning,
John
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Lysander
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Great idea. Do you have any suggestions for Turkish or Greek?
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stringmanca
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This is a great resource, John - thanks for posting!
I just wanted to mention that the Aswat Ensemble will be performing many of these Sabah Fakhri songs (and others) at our concert on June 14th at San
Francisco State University.
http://zawaya.org/site/aleppo-alive-committing-the-endangered-music...
Hope to see all you Bay Area udis there!
Nathan
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John Erlich
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Hi Lysander,
I am more of an Arabic-style oudist, so I know less Greek and Turkish music. Most of the Turkish music I play is Ottoman Classical Music, so I'm
learning it from charts. I also don't share the enthusiasm most oudists in my geographc area have for non-square meters common in
Greek/Turkish/Balkan music (5/8, 7/8, 9/8, etc.).
Nevertheless, here are a couple of my favorites:
Favorite Greek (Cretan) folk-style recording: http://xilouris.gr/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=72
Favorite Turkish folk-style recording: http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%BCl%C3%BCn-Kokusu-Vardi-Ismail-H-Demirci...
I have already posted a transcription I did of one of the songs, "Manousaki," from the Cretan recording, above. The Turkish songs tend to have more
complicated meters, and I know for a fact that "notaları" are available for every song on the Turkish recording I recommended, in case you get
stuck, or have trouble identifying an usul (rhythm) or makam.
In general, Turkish Sufi Illahiler are pretty simple melodies and good for intermediate udists to try to pick out. I suggest "Seni Ben Severim" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2PHY4bimm8 and "Ah Nice Bir Uyursun" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP18rPtwt0g
I also want to make another plug for the Ibn Arabi Ensemble recording (Moroccan Sufi music) - http://www.amazon.com/Chants-soufis-arabo-andalous-Arabo-Andalusian...
Peace out,
"Udi" John
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MatthewW
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hi John, for us oudies with a lazy ear, would you have any of the Turkish Sufi Illahiler already scored, by these guys for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP18rPtwt0g
 thanks
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Brian Prunka
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Neyzen has a bunch:
http://www.neyzen.com/ney_ilahiler.html
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John Erlich
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Hi Matthew,
Generally, if you want sheet music for Turkish music, it's very, very easy to find. Just try Google image searching the name of the song and the
Turkish word for sheet music, "notları."
Here is a typical archive of Turkish music sheets: http://www.trtnotaarsivi.com/
But, really do try to learn some of these by ear, first. The payoff will be large!
Peace out,
"Udi" John
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TomtheTall
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I've been looking for just this kind of resource - thanks 
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