Musical Instruments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Musical Instruments - Essay ExampleIt will concentrate on their distinction and similarities in terms of structure, performance techniques, occasion when they are played, and their historical context.The origin of the Arabic oud is much associated with Biblical history. A myth tells the story of Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam who is extremely grieved by the death of his son. Thus, world unable to contain his grief, he hung his sons remains in a tree. The first oud is said to have been enliven from the shape of Lamechs desiccated skeleton (Parfitt 2).The Arabic oud is described as a pear- regulate, stringed instrument similar to lute which is commonly used in Middle Eastern music (Oud 1). It should be noted that both the oud and the lute are derived from the Arabic term al-ud which is liter every last(predicate)y translated as wood. Gianfranco Lotti also suggests that the wood appellation originally carried derogatory connotations, because of proscriptions of all instrumental music in early Islam (Oud 2).The exact date when the oud is created can never be accurately determined. However, evidence showing the earliest usage of this musical instrument dates back to the Uruk period in gray Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) which is 5000 years ago. Dr. Dominique Collon acquired a cylinder seal which shows the picture of a female crouching with her instruments upon a boat, contend right handed (Parfitt 3). It should be noted that aside from this pictorial record, the oud appears all throughout the Mesopatamian history bring out its importance in the civilization and culture.Throughout time, the original structure of the oud has been rather modified due to the societal changes. The oud is consists of a large soundbox connected to a short neck, features that give it its letters patent of grandness and distinguished it from the long-necked lute family (Parfitt 4). The remains of the oud which is originally pear-shaped has been transformed into a more swelling and travel one. Since the oud is used by many countries, its structure also varies with according to its regional origin. There are third varieties of Arabic ouds Syrian which are slightly larger, longer-necked, and lower in pitch Iraqi which are largely similar to Syrian oud but with floating bridges which focuses the mid-range frequencies and gives the instruments a guitar-like sound and Egyptian which has a more-pear shaped body, slightly different tone, very ornate, and highly decorated (Oud 4).However, amidst the differences and variations which appeared, the Arabic oud still has distinct and defining features that divorce it from other musical instruments. Compared to other stringed instruments, the Arabic oud is classifiable because of the number of its sound-holes. The oud generally has one to three sound-holes. Furthermore, the ouds body contains a staved, bow-like back which resembles the back of half watermelon allowing it to resonate and produce a more multiform ton e. The Arabic oud also has a pegbox which is bent at 45-90 angle from its neck. This musical instrument is also distinctive because of its eleven strings. It should be noted that the first ten are arranged in pairs while the eleventh remains single. The Arabic oud, is also differentiated from other plucked instruments because