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bahleh13
Oud Maniac
Posts: 75
Registered: 7-18-2003
Location: Riga, Latvia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Majnoun el Oud
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The Maqam of the Week Thread
Is this mic on? Hello? Testing 1, 2...
Ok Ok, now it seems all is set, and we can start. TP u get great ideas, but ideas remain ideas until something is done, which is why I hope you will
be reading this post  Of course one alone cant start an idea (unless he is a god
which I ain't) and it requires the cooperation of all *groans* Come on!!! I am not asking you to lift mountains on your shoulders. All i want is
some clips recorded 
I nominate Nahawand as the Maqam of the Week. OK I know we heard a lot of it, but it seems all like it and can manage in it, even the
"rookies" so might as well get everyone posting.
Here's the rules (my 2 cents):
- The post is how u play it usually, so it can either be the maqam itself or a variant, whichever makes you feel comfortable
- The post has to be AT LEAST 2 mins. We all like to enjoy listening to each others' taksims, and frankly anything less 2 mins is a torture for
us (refer to posts with taksims around 1 min only)
- People who are critics should participate as well  Of course I know y'all
like to hear and remark on nice work, but if only one or two will post and everyone will only remark we'll get nowhere. If the critic plays Oud
it is MANDATORY to post a piece at least once.
- People may feel free to post more than one piece. One piece makes a brother happy, imagine what two or three would do
Other than that, I am open to more suggestions how the posts should be or any changes or additions to the rules stated above.
I posted henceforth my first piece (rules apply on who put them, else I'd be a hypocrite) of nahawand. A bit short, but I guess I was too busy
and exhausted, I need to brush up once again on my Oud playing, coz frankly playing some 4 hours two days a week is bad  Hope y'all will like it.
Yours truly,
Basel
P.S. I just came after a long period of absence, do not refuse me my request
Please?! prettypleasewithsugarontop??
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zeyad
Oud Addict
Posts: 47
Registered: 9-22-2003
Location: Ohio
Member Is Offline
Mood: love the oud
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welcome back
Hi Basel, it is nice to hear you playing oud again. Can I suggest something? maybe it will be helful also (for bigenners like me) if you or oud
players specify the note or key of the maqam you play. For example, you played Nahawand on C.
I enjoy your taqaseem. I am not a critic . So, I will give you just my personal
opinion. It sounds like your taqaseem is made of two main parts. I like the first part the most. The second (where you started from "g" is
cool too and more creative. But I like the first part because it sounds more emotional and realy give the feeling of Nahawand. Thank you (my teacher)
for this clip. I am zeyad, if you remember me. I would post a Nahawand cilp very soon.
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Great Taqsim
Wonderful Taqsim Basel! A lot of feeling there. I'm afraid I can't offer much in the way of critique - I don't know enough about the
subtleties of the maqamet yet. It sounds good to me though – keep it up 
I'll do my part to keep this thread alive. Here is my own humble offering – still trying to feel my way around Nahawand in C:
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
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Mood: No Mood
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Ok, Basel. Welcome back! How can we refuse such a request? I don't know if I'm as isolated as Latvia, but this forum can be a great
motivator. I missed your playing and your posts from the Farid forum. Thank God for Mike, huh?!
Here is my offering. Critique away, I'm just a beginner. I bring in a little Ajam at one spot that's a bit off, but I haven't been
playing much Nahawand lately.
I'm pretty busy, so a file per week will be impossible for me. Maybe we could do Maqam of the Month? Are we in any hurry here? This week is
almost over and only two responses with files....so maybe it's a good idea. Lets hear it.
Taqasim Nahawand
Best,
Jameel
P.S. Lee, nice clip. You are lucky to have a great teacher and access to Kan Zaman.
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bahleh13
Oud Maniac
Posts: 75
Registered: 7-18-2003
Location: Riga, Latvia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Majnoun el Oud
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Back!!
Guys the thread is going nice with two additions and two suggestions.
Lee as I remember (if my memory isn't playing games on me) before i got too busy with studies and left the forum, you still didnt play and were
looking for a teacher. What I hear now is very very great!!! Keep up your good work. Thanx for your compliments and in fact you deserve them more than
i do, since you have achieved such a piece in a short time (2 months?)
Jameel, thanx for what you said, I'm glad someone misses my playing You
piece is quite excellent (those excercises u got from Simon Shaheen work like a wonder, can i get them by mail?). I like also how you switch to the
nahawand with hijaz variant, and the ajam switch was quite unfamiliar, but it was good and fluid when you returned back to nahawand, so I guess it
wasnt bad using ajam at all there, as long as u treat it the same way u did in this piece I have nothing more to say (I feel afraid I might do the piece injustice by complimenting with words which are not enough ). Jameel i also tossed the idea in my head and I do agree that it WILL be the Maqam
of the Month, since people can be busy, and one week is not enough to get everyone's posts (I know others would love to partiipate given that
they have time), so ur proposal is granted Besides TP, Emad and the rest still
didnt post here so I dont have the heart not to wait for pieces from them. (Hope y'all are reading this). One more thing, i like how you switched
to Kurd on G when you played "Nassam 3alayna el Hawa", frankly I started to play it for a couple of hours after I heard ur piece, coz I
never played it from G, rather I always played it from A. Quite inspiring (actually i forgot that the piece was in Nahawand and later realized that I
didnt feel how u changed it). Keep up the good work mate.
Last but not least, my dear "student" zeyad (of course I still
remember you ) Thanx for being a critic, in my opinion being a critic is part of
the learning process, hence essential. I agree as well to what you suggest, and I promise that I will post it quite soon, with as much details about
the maqam and variants and switches as I can. Hopefully we'll be hearing your post soon. you were right I was playing on C (some play on D, like
Farido in Ma2darshi if you saw the clip), only I tuned one step higher for reasons i'll specify later.
Waiting for all the rest to post. Peace y'all!!
Yours truly,
Basel
P.S. i DO thank God for Mike and his forum. Mike, hoping u r reading this. Post as well man
P.P.S. Jameel ur Oud's tone sounds richer now (possibly the wood drying). I like it a lot.
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na3na3_elQT
Oud Admirer
Posts: 2
Registered: 6-19-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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guys I"ve been playing the guitar for eight years, but I LOOOOVE el anooun and the 3oud. I wanna play but I feel really challenged...
any previous guitarists on the thread?
Also alot of the songs are not downloading...
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Former guitar player
Hi na3na3_elQT
I'm a former guitar player (30+years) I got my first oud in December - had my first lesson the end of January. I think I've had about 6
lessons so far but I've also been taking drumming lessons from my oud teacher as well and I think that helps. Guitar has given me strength and
coordination for my left hand and making the transition to a fretless instrument has been relatively easy – definitely not as hard as I thought it
would be. The hardest thing for me is the right hand risha technique. This is much different that the flat pick technique practiced with steel string
guitars. Oud risha technique is much more sophisticated and there is also quite a bit of variety in approaches from different styles.
All I can say is to dive in... the water is fine!
I love the oud so much I haven't picked up any of my guitars since January! I'm even getting ready to sell one on ebay.
As far as songs not downloading - this is usually a Mac vs PC sort of thing... if you're on a PC (Windows) just make sure you have the latest
Quicktime plug-in for Windows so you can access the latest compression codecs for the aiff or mp3 files.
Now lets hear some Taqsim! TP?, Emad?, Ronny?
BTW, Jameel, I really liked that Ajam bit as well – a nice surprise and you returned to Nahawand very nicely. Nice Qaflas (sp? not sure on the exact
term here) where you come to a stop in the playing - nice feeling there. Anyone else care to comment on that? I notice it a lot in Sunbati's
playing.
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Basel,
Thanks, friend. I always play Nassam alayna that way. It's easy. When I play taqasim, I think I get too mentally involved in technique. When I
listen to the recording, I know exactly where I should have gone and what I should have said (you know taqasim mimics the voice), but it's harder
to do that while actually playing. Time and practice, plus relaxing mentally and letting it happen is the key I think. E-mail me about the Shaheen
excercises. (you can get my e-mail address from my website). The oud I played for the taqasim is not the one I built, but a Sukar I just repaired.
It's a nice oud. See this thread.
Lee,
Thanks. Regarding the qaflat (pl.), this is an essential part of a taqasim. Each phrase ends with a qafla. This is like a punctuation mark. Like a
period. You can read detailed info about it at Brian Prunka's website. Or this. All great oud players use the qafla, Farido's were some of the best. (Of course)
TP, Emad, looking forward.......
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Mike
Super Administrator
Posts: 1568
Registered: 12-3-2002
Location: California, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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Hey guys,
Welcome back Basel - and don't worry, I read all the posts. We missed you. I
like this idea my friend. Just make sure you continue to do it though. We've had good ideas before, but people never seem to follow through with
them. Very nice playing for all of you guys. Jameel, your playing has improved immensely. Way to go!
Take care,
Mike
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sydney
Oud Junkie
Posts: 579
Registered: 12-9-2003
Location: Down Under
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bastanikar
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hello again fine people
It's been a long time since my last post. I did miss all of you. As most of you know that I was getting married.
I recommend all of you to play oud and also get married 
Jameel you sounded very creamy.. lovely feelings there mate.
Basel Your taqsim was rather serious but nice after exams. I hope your exams went well. This is a very nice idea Basel. I love it and I hope we all
support it.
here is my humble share...
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sydney
Oud Junkie
Posts: 579
Registered: 12-9-2003
Location: Down Under
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bastanikar
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Oh Varis
Mate, I could not play your file on my PC. is it possible for you to re-post it in mp3 or real player formats please?
Regards,
Emad from Sydney
Mike , Thank you so much man.
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Sound File
Sorry Sydney,
I have a lot of trouble converting my sound files into anything other than Quicktime at a reasonable size. See if you can download this version... its
a Quicktime file but hopefully its ion a standard enough format for you:
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Arrrgh
OK, I couldn't even get that one to work.
Try this ... its in MPEG-4 format. If anyone else can translate these files maybe you can help out here. Mike?
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Emad rules !
Great Taqsim Emad...
Very cool risha work there!
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zeyad
Oud Addict
Posts: 47
Registered: 9-22-2003
Location: Ohio
Member Is Offline
Mood: love the oud
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Hi guys,
LeeVaris, I also use Mac, but do not have any problem with sound formats. I use SoundEdit to record music and then RealProducer to convert files into
Realplayer format (.rm).
Here is my try : Nahawand on (C) and at 1:09, I shifted to Bayati on (g). Is it called Ushaq Masree maqam when you have Nahawand on (C) then Bayati on
(g)?
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Elie Riachi
Oud Junkie
Posts: 582
Registered: 4-9-2004
Location: Kansas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gebran Tueni Lives For Ever, 12-12-05.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LeeVaris
If anyone else can translate these files maybe you can help out here. Mike? |
I downloaded the latest free version of Quicktime and installed it. Then right clicked on the aif and saved target as, then double clicked the file
from the location it was sved to. This is how it worked for me.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Elie
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Thanks, Mike and Emad.
Emad, I really like your style. Very Farido-ish.
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Mike
Super Administrator
Posts: 1568
Registered: 12-3-2002
Location: California, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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Hey guys,
Welcome back from your honeymoon Emad. Great taqsim my friend!
Lee, I was able to convert the MPEG-4 format to MP3. Here it is my man.
Take care,
Mike
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2955
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Hey I gotta say how good eveyone sounds.
Especially Emad!
Jameel my man, good to hear something from you; I don't think I heard your playing before. Very nice.
of course everyone else sounds good too . . .
I enjoyed Basel's taqsim a lot. Lee, I can't believe you just got your oud in december.
Zeyad, you're right about the Ushshaq Masri maqam, except it's usually from D-d (D E F G A B1/2b C D). The important thing about that maqam
is that the leading tone to D is always a whole step (C) instead of the half-step usually used in Nahawand.
So as not te be in violation of the rules, here's something from me. It's not a 'real' taqsim in terms of structure/development
etc., but it's in Nahawand. I was basically noodling around while testing out my new microphone . . .
Nahawand Noodling
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Wow
Brian... very, very cool!
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Jameel
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1672
Registered: 12-5-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Hey Brian,
Thanks.
Awesome song, my friend. I can definitely hear some Shaheen influence. 
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revaldo29
Oud Junkie
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-24-2004
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: inspired
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Hey everybody,
I'm realy glad to have run across this forum. I listened to everyones playing and all I can say is I've got a lot to learn.
I have two questions and it would be great if someone out there would help me out. I've been playing the oud for about 1 and 1/2 years. I
also play percussion and I've been doing that for about 6 years. Playing the oud has been a little tough because I haven't realy had anyone
to teach me. My only source of information is from websites and articles which can never replace a personal lesson. So my first question is, does
anyone know of someone in the Atlanta area who plays the oud pretty well and would be willing to spend some time with me?
The second question is can someone tell me how to record my playing on the computer and post it on this forum? I have a regular computer-mike
and a pick-up that attaches to my oud but I don't think I could get that to the computer in any way.
As soon as I figure out how to do that, I will post a recording up and hopefully get some criticism.
Oh ya, Brian, I loved your playing. It has a realy soothing western feel to it.
Adnan Elhammali
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revaldo29
Oud Junkie
Posts: 418
Registered: 6-24-2004
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: inspired
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| Quote: | Originally posted by revaldo29
Hey everybody,
I'm realy glad to have run across this forum. I listened to everyones playing and all I can say is I've got a lot to learn.
I have two questions and it would be great if someone out there would help me out. I've been playing the oud for about 1 year. I also play
percussion and I've been doing that for about 6 years. Playing the oud has been a little tough because I haven't realy had anyone to teach
me. My only source of information is from websites and articles which can never replace a personal lesson. So my first question is, does anyone know
of someone in the Atlanta area who plays the oud pretty well and would be willing to spend some time with me?
The second question is can someone tell me how to record my playing on the computer and post it on this forum? I have a regular computer-mike
and a pick-up that attaches to my oud but I don't think I could get that to the computer in any way.
As soon as I figure out how to do that, I will post a recording up and hopefully get some criticism.
Oh ya, Brian, I loved your playing. It has a realy soothing western feel to it.
Adnan Elhammali |
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Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2955
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Stringish
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Thanks for your comments, guys . . .
here's another improvisation in Nahawand:
nahawand mp3
by the way . . . what's the maqam for July?
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LeeVaris
Oud Junkie
Posts: 379
Registered: 12-16-2003
Location: Los Angeles
Member Is Offline
Mood: oud lover
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Wow... again
Man, Brian...
You rock! Lovely taqsim... very musical – great feeling and dynamics. I especially liked the the chordal harmonies you used about 2/3 of the way
through. The piece went through a lot of changes even though you stayed pretty much with Nahawand.
Great... keep 'em coming!
As far as maqam for July, anyone up for Hijaz?
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