Exotic instruments carry us away to another time and place. They add pizzazz to otherwise mundane musical arrangements. They can be used to create a unique and unusual sound not achievable with traditional instrumental collection. The oud, the saz and the hurdy gurdy are three examples.
The oud is stringed instrument most often used in North African and Middle Eastern music. It is said to have been invented by a grandson of the biblical Adam. Pictorial representations can be found dating back 5000 years.
The oud appears throughout Mesopotamian history. It has been a part of the musical tradition of virtually every ancient civilization in the Middle East and Mediterranean. The modern oud is somewhat different from its ancient orgins. It also varies region to region but it does have some defining features. It does not have a fretted neck. It has eleven strings. Perhaps most remarkable is its body. It has a bowl shaped back which allows for resonance.
The saz is also referred to as the baglama. Cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia and the Near East use it in their musical traditions. It is most often found in Turkey where it is the most common folk instrument.
The saz is a seven stringed instrument with three main parts. These are the bowl, the neck and the sounding board. The parts may be made of spruce, mulberry wood, juniper or beech.
The hurdy gurdy is sometimes referred to as the wheel fiddle. That name comes from the way the sound is produced. A crank turns a wheel which rubs against strings. The sound produced is like that of a bagpipe's constant drone. The hurdy gurdy is very regionalized in terms of design. There is no standardization of design beyond two broad body stylings. Those are the bowl shape and the standard guitar shape.
The hurdy gurdy is featured at many European folk festivals. It is centered primarily in Eastern Europe in countries such as Hungary, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine. Folk dances are often done to its music.
Exotic instruments help to expand musical and cultural horizons. They offer a way to learn about musical history and apply it to create exciting modern pieces. All types of music have been and will continue to be influenced by these exotic pieces. Read more about: exotic instruments
The oud is stringed instrument most often used in North African and Middle Eastern music. It is said to have been invented by a grandson of the biblical Adam. Pictorial representations can be found dating back 5000 years.
The oud appears throughout Mesopotamian history. It has been a part of the musical tradition of virtually every ancient civilization in the Middle East and Mediterranean. The modern oud is somewhat different from its ancient orgins. It also varies region to region but it does have some defining features. It does not have a fretted neck. It has eleven strings. Perhaps most remarkable is its body. It has a bowl shaped back which allows for resonance.
The saz is also referred to as the baglama. Cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Central Asia and the Near East use it in their musical traditions. It is most often found in Turkey where it is the most common folk instrument.
The saz is a seven stringed instrument with three main parts. These are the bowl, the neck and the sounding board. The parts may be made of spruce, mulberry wood, juniper or beech.
The hurdy gurdy is sometimes referred to as the wheel fiddle. That name comes from the way the sound is produced. A crank turns a wheel which rubs against strings. The sound produced is like that of a bagpipe's constant drone. The hurdy gurdy is very regionalized in terms of design. There is no standardization of design beyond two broad body stylings. Those are the bowl shape and the standard guitar shape.
The hurdy gurdy is featured at many European folk festivals. It is centered primarily in Eastern Europe in countries such as Hungary, Poland, Belarus and Ukraine. Folk dances are often done to its music.
Exotic instruments help to expand musical and cultural horizons. They offer a way to learn about musical history and apply it to create exciting modern pieces. All types of music have been and will continue to be influenced by these exotic pieces. Read more about: exotic instruments
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