Oud

The Oud The Oud is a pear shaped instrument, the ancient ancestor of the Guitar and is directly related to the Lute as well (derived from its Arabic name al-oud). It is fascinating to see how languages evolve; Guitar is also driven from the Persian word Tar (which means string). In ancient Persia they used to name all their string instruments Tar (like the Sitar).

The Oud is a melodic instrument which is plucked with a long pick; In ancient times they used the edge of a long feather. The Oud is made from high quality wood by craftsmanship that passes through the generations. It has six doubled string which produce sounds that entrance the listener. In Ethnica you can listen to some great Oud playing by Elad Gabbay in a Turkish style type of playing. Please listen to the following tracks – “Aziza”, “I Sit alone”.

Link to some Ethnica tracks    A video showcasing the Oud    

Additional information about the instrument

Saz

Saz is a string instrument played mostly in Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Balkan. It has a three doubled string and a long grip. The Saz (also known as the Baglama) has frets that can be moved to change the space between them so you can alter the musical scale and play quarter notes.

Some excellent sounding Saz playing by our Saz player Eliyahu Digmi is present in the Ethnica track “Beautiful”.

Link to some Ethnica tracks with the Saz    A video showcasing the Saz

Additional information about the instrument

Jambush

The Jumbush is and instrument taken from Turkey and the Balkan. It has six doubled strings and a fretless grip. It’s body is made from light metal with stretched skin. It is very similar to the Banjo. Please listen to Elad Gabbay’s Jumbush playing in the following newly released Ethnica tracks:“Aukotoko”, “Lulu”.

Ethnica tracks showcasing Elad’s Jumbush playing

Sazbush

The Sazbush is Turkish instrument as well. It is a combination of the Saz and the Jumbush. The Sazbush has a three doubled string, it has a saz like grip and a Jumbush like body. You can listen to these beautiful strings instruments in Ethnica's CD - "Seven Steps".

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Kanoon

Kanoon (Kanoun) is a lap-harp with approximately 72 strings, tuned in sets of three. It is plucked with finger-picks extended from each index finger held by a metal circular band. It is the predecessor to the harpsichord and piano. The kanoon is played by Armenians from Western Armenia (Historical Armenia). Please listen to Elad Gabbay’s extremely agile and mystical Kanoon playing in “Lucia” and “Sleep”.

Ethnica tracks containing Kanoon playing    Video

Percussion

Middle Eastern music has a rich variety of percussion instruments. The Darbuka and the Daf (Tambourine) are the most popular. Most percussion instruments used to be made in the past from materials taken from the earth, the land and skin stretched over them. Some percussion instruments are made from wood and metal. Darbuka players are extremely skilled musicians and they hold the rhythm for the whole ensemble.

The Daf is a frame drum made from stretched skin with pairs of small cymbals connected to the frame. You can listen to Asaf Zamir’s percussion playing in Ethnicamusic, he plays a rich variety of drums such as the Daf, Shakers, Tambourines, Darbukas, Frame Drums and many other amazing percussion instruments from around the world.

Listen to some virtuoso percussion playing in all of Ethnica’s tracks    Video