Music for the Classical Oud

Dating from antiquity, the oud is a mainstay in Middle Eastern music. The oud, a pear-shaped instrument, has 11 or 12 strings grouped into 5 or 6 double-stringed courses. The fingerboard is unfretted, allowing the performer to play in quarter-tone scales. In this concert recording from 1963, Kasmis El Fino plays two short and two long untitled compositions, demonstrating his skills in slow, free-rhythm improvisation (“Taksimes”) and in changing from one nagham (tonal scale) to another (“Tagheer”).

Track Listing

101	Selection No. 1	Khamis El Fino Ali	03:55
102	Selection No. 2	Khamis El Fino Ali	14:16
201	Selection No. 3	Khamis El Fino Ali	14:06
202	Selection No. 4	Khamis El Fino Ali	03:40