davidg
Oud Addict
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Registered: 3-25-2005
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Hrant Recordings
Hello to everyone,
I just want to say thank you for the files in the Taqsim section. I really enjoyed them. They were really awesome. I think you guys should check it
out if you already havn't. One
of my favrite udist of all time.
Here is the link.
http://www.mikeouds.com/mp3/view.php
Thanks to Mr. Jonathan and Mike thanks a lot!!
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Jonathan
Oud Junkie
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I am really glad you like them, and I am glad that Mike felt that they were worthwhile to post.
Hrant is one of my favorite artists. I could listen to him all day, and at times I have. Just the way he plays with every note. So clean and
precise.
Hrant released a ton of material in his lifetime-- a lot more than is currently available. Some unbelievably great, and some not. But, some of the
material that is not currently available is every bit as great as the material that has been reissued. I think that those two tracks are a good
example of that. To my knowledge, they have never been re-issued since they were released on a pretty obscure LP decades ago--The Genius of Houdi
Hrant. The LP is tough to get now. I saw a used one go on ebay a while back for $75. Still, some of the tracks are awesome. Some, unfortunately,
are with an orchestral backing, which I hate. But when it is just Hrant, his oud, and minimal backing, he is unbelievable.
Ninni really shows off his voice. A lot less oud on that one, but what is there is amazing. I love his voice. This is a pretty sad track-- a
lullaby to an orphan child. "Who will dry your eyes? Sleep. Lullaby." Something like that.
There are also a ton of 78s that were released during Hrant's lifetime, often with him not as the main artist, so sometimes you don't know he is on
there until you really research it. Sometimes with violin, sometimes with oud.
By the way, if anybody knows anything about Hrant's autobiography, I would love to get a copy. Also, I am trying to find out the dates of his US
appearances. Finally, if anybody has any tapes of his US appearances that they would be willing to trade, please let me know.
Jonathan
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Jonathan
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Yes, Andy. The thing I don't like about those LPs is all that orchestral-type backing. The two tracks that Mike posted are from The Genius of Houdi
Hrant--an LP on Aris (or maybe Aries, I don't have it with me right now). I sent you a u2u. I don't know who the New England player is.
There are also "bootleg" recordings out there. I love the CD that Harold Hagopian issued on Hrant--essentially Hrant giving lessons to a student in
the US. Just great. There are similar tapes like that out there. Apparently, when he was in the US, he did a lot of playing at homes, and
recordings of varying quality were made. Also, I know that at least some of the shows were recorded--I have heard a stereo recording of one of the US
shows.
If you don't have it, Richard Hagopian recorded a tribute VHS to Hrant--Traditional Crossroads released it. It is not really widely available, but
can be obtained through Traditional Crossroads. If anybody needs more info, let me know. Richard Hagopian. Harold Hagopian on Violin. Others. I
like it a lot, and in fact downloaded all of the music onto my IPod. It starts out with a spoken intro from Hrant himself to Richard Hagopian.
Apparently, Hagopian and Hrant sent tapes back and forth to each other. I would love to hear these.
Interesting that you mention Canakale. What a great song. A lot of people don't realize that the song was actually written by Udi Bogos, who was
Hrant's brother-in-law.
At one point, I was trying to put together a discography for Hrant. It just got out of hand, and there was no way it could ever be complete. Does
anybody know of one? Just the number of 78s, on so many different labels, gets overwhelming.
I would love to get the vibrato that Hrant gets out of his left hand. He just really caresses each note, and gets the most out of them. I would love
to have been able to have seen him play. Are there any videotapes of him?
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Andy
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The VHS tribute, I went to the tribute concert in Somerville, MA a few years ago. The Somerville Theatre was packed, SRO, and I was lucky to get a few
rows back from Richard Hagopian. The theatre was built during the days when people did not eat like we do now, he he,so even my medium sized body had
trouble being comfortable. Sorry if I offend anyone reading this. The Turkish kanunist was just fantastic, he played without picks which gave the
kanun softer sound. I'll check with Gary Jr. at ACME in Watertown to see if he the VHS. I'm sure he can get for me if he doesn't have it.
Vibato is a great tool in music. If you are not able to see an oudist play vibrato the next best thing would be to watch a violinist perform. Jonathan
all you have to do is practise it. Another effect, when you listen to both Udi Bacanos and Hrant you will hear them occasionally tap the note on the
string they are playing and simotaneously playing that string with as many strokes as taps. The name of which eludes me_____. With so many oud players
on the forum someone will read this and fill in the blank.
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Jonathan
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Andy, the details of the LP are: Houdi Hrant, Master of the Oriental Oud on Aris HLP 1008. Another cool LP that he appears on as a backing
musician is Holiday in Turkey by Lutfi Guneri on Standard LP 430. He is also on the Spero Spyros LP entitled Anatolian Introduction on Near East
45003 (not as good).
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Andy
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Don't know the details but some guy from the Boston, MA area had in his possession never ever heard tapes of Oudi Hrant in the USA recorded in an
apartment. The tapes were given to a New England oud player to share the treasure. The person who had the tapes didn't know the true value but knew he
had something that should be preserved for history. The tapes will be turned over to an Armenian American Musician/Collector in the Boston area.
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Jonathan
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I know of similar tapes. The problem is, they are just sitting in peoples homes, deteriorating. To us, they are gold. But, when you ask the owners
why they never thought of releasing the material, they respond that nobody is interested. Sadly, they are largely right. The number of cds sold of
this type of material is really very very low. Especially the old old stuff. But, it is so great. So, we really have to support the releases when
they come out, if possible. Not buy one and make a million copies.
When you listen to that Traditional Crossroads CD of Hrant in 1950, recorded in an apartment, it is just a miracle. The playing, the quality of the
recording, everything. I am so glad that Harold Hagopian had the wisdom to release it.
The scary thing is that the older generation of fans and musicians, the ones that knew, heard, and recorded people like Hrant, Marko, Ganimian, and
others, are passing on. A lot of the material will simply be lost, I am sure. We need some sort of repository for this material.
And, when the artists allow it, we should continue to record those musicians that are playing now. Most of the musicians do not object--they know
that if you are out there recording their shows, you already have all of their cds. They are flattered.
I know I am speaking of Armenians musicians, only because that is what I am most familiar with, but I am sure that it is true universally.
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SamirCanada
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I couldnt agree with you more Jonathan.
Its trully a phenomenon that can be frustrating to us. But saddly you are right when you say that largely the public isnt interested in these great
compositions. Unfortunatly I think the music industry is dictating what people should like. I also noticed that eversince the mass downloading of
music started aroud 5 years ago they have been trying harder harder to impose the type of music that sells more and that radios will play. so there is
little space for music and musicians that play real instruments. Its ALL drum machine and midi keyboard now days... and that is to me the biggest
waste of talents. Even when you see big arabic orchestras they sometimes restrain the violin section to play along a keyboard that cant play
microtones. And the oud.... well good luck finding one in a orchestra now days.. its a shame but thats the way things are going.
On a side note there are some musicians that keep it real I like the fact for instance that Najwa Karam always tries to include a song recorded with
only real instruments. Here is the song El 3omer Meshwar. Can someone identify the maqam at the same time please
http://www.mazikana.com/Songs/N/Nagwa_Karam/mp3/Collection/Mazikana...
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Jonathan
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Oh, man, the way a lot Arabic music is losing microtones. I am no expert in Arabic music, but it is just really sad.
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oudplayer
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hety samir
thx for the mp3 its great its really true bc my uncle just found so much lp records off arabic ouds players and singers so when i get a chance i will
go to his house and see what i cant put on my pc and then share with you guys
thx sammy
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hartun
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hi im a new member but i noticed this flipping through old posts about armenian music, hrant, etc....
if jonathan is still around to answer it here is my question....
was chanakkale really written by oudi boghos? where do you get this information from? because if it was thats very, very, interesting that it was
written by an armenian
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