The oud is one of mankind’s oldest stringed instruments, dating back to the Akkadian Empire (2350 BCE) in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). One of the greatest proponents of the oud was Ziryab (777–852 CE). He was the lead singer and musician at the court of Andalusia (modern-day Spain). He developed the instrument and spread its use from the Islamic world into Europe.

Bait Al Oud also teaches the skills and process of making an oud by hand. Based on the instrument’s classic form, ouds produced at Bait Al Oud are precision crafted to be 67 centimetres long and 36 cm wide at the sound box. The finest cedar and rosewood are used to make the oud. Each piece is then assessed for its ideal placement in the instrument. This gives a distinctive sound to the oud strings, especially for high notes and bass. The precise carving and selection of the wood helps to provide each instrument with the accurate tightness of the strings, allowing the musicians to tune the highest notes.

Curriculum

Formal study of the oud, qanun, cello and rebabah at Bait Al Oud lasts five semesters. A panel judges on the suitability of each student’s progression from one semester to the next. At the end of the course of study, each student takes part in a public concert with professional musicians. The student’s performance at the graduation concert is then judged by a jury, consisting of renowned masters of their instrument. Only after passing this final assessment is a student granted the Bait Al Oud Diploma, certifying their ability to start a career as a professional musician.