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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

World Travels: Jordan and the Oud

The Sound of Music: Keeping the beloved oud alive and well

Behind the counter of his Jordanian shop, its walls lined with musical instruments, Jerar Hallaby plays his favorite oud, calling to would-be customers as they stroll by.


Everyone in Amman loves music, he says, but these days few can afford to buy an instrument. Back when his father opened this shop in the teeming central business district, customers would fill the shop as if it were a fruit market.

“I could not sit here and have a conversation with you, as I am doing now. Believe me, it was packed,” says Hallaby, massaging his chin covered in salt and pepper stubble. His father imported instruments from as far away as Lebanon, Egypt and Germany, and in a workshop in the back, he used to make stringed instruments. It was here that Hallaby found his first love, the pear-shaped lute known throughout the Middle East as the oud.

His mind still in reverie, he picks up an oud and plays an exotic tune in a minor key, a song of hope and resilience. “You play this instrument for yourself, like you are having a conversation,” Hallaby says. “You can tell it things that you cannot tell to others.” He repeats this last phrase to himself, relishing it like a poem.

The love of the oud is centuries old. Pictures of oud-like instruments have been found on stone carvings and wall paintings of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The earliest ouds were thought to be carved from a solid piece of wood that resembled Chinese and Japanese instruments which are descendants of the ancient Persian barbat.

During the Moorish period in Spain, the oud gained its characteristic appearance. The staved wood and vaulted back design was carved from a single piece of flexible wood. This is where the oud gained its name, from the Arabic word meaning wood or flexible stick.

Cradled comfortably in the player’s arms, it is light as a feather and smooth to the touch, generating a gentle tone similar to that of the harpsichord or mandolin. The skillful technique of putting the wood together is what gives the oud its delicate and beautiful tone.

“Jordan has been good to me,” he says, still plucking his prized instrument. To many in the outside world, Jordan is a distant country, a peaceful oasis tucked in between Israel, Syria and Saudi Arabia, where Indiana Jones rode through the stone city of Petra. But a stroll through Hallaby’s shop is a journey through a land of music where the Tablah, also called the darbukkah or dumbak, and the qanun carry the workload of any group rather than a set of drums and an electric guitar.

Kids today let music come to them,” he says. “In my day we brought ourselves to the music. We could play three instruments and speak the same languages. Still, they love music. But they can’t play a note of it, not now.”

The glass cases of Hallaby’s shop look full, with gleaming trumpets, tubas and trombones. In one case full of ouds, there are woodwinds but not an electric instrument to be found. “But instead of playing this,” he says, tapping his oud, “they play that.” He points at a radio.

He shrugs. “It’s a different sound.”

As he plays the oud, using his thumb instead of a pick, deep tones reach out into the room. A young couple peers in through the trumpets and guitars hanging in the front glass window and enters the shop—she in a black head scarf,  he in a Western sports coat and slacks—and listen patiently, appreciatively. They are the very picture of the new diversity and prosperity, spreading across the region.

Why isn’t Hallaby’s shop full now, as Jordan is enjoying one of its better tourism years? The answer may be found in the half dozen CD shops in this neighborhood, where every dance hit from Egypt, Lebanon, Western Europe and America can be found. “Playing your iPod takes no effort and requires no lessons,” he explains.

Once again he strikes a chord on his oud, telling it things he cannot tell others.


Friday, February 23, 2007

World Travels: Beirut

LEBANON THROUGH THE EYE OF THE LENS

The Watering Hole
When I think of a watering hole, I don't think of a bar— but rather a secluded and quiet place, with a little brook and a convenient tree to lean against. Of course, there is a peaceful and playful breeze gently blowing. It's a retreat and a place of reflection. The mountains of Lebanon are just that for many.

Jezzine
Home of 130 waterfalls and incredible landscapes, Jezzine is among the most renowned summer resorts. The town is surrounded by pine forests, vineyards and orchards. From the top of the towering rocky peninsula of al Shir, the visitor enjoys a breathtaking view of surrounding areas.

The homes, however, are what keep the locals tethered to the region. Many are built of granite and limestone and are unlike anything you have ever seen.

Spinning the Night
DJ Mahmoud Kaabour caught in action
The atmosphere of Beirut’s nightlife is distinctly playful, as young Beirutis converge with a singular mindset, bent on living in the moment.

Crowds gather at Torino Express, a popular spot off the beaten path in Beirut, for cozy ambiance, trendy music and its friendly staff (think Cheers in Lebanon). One big plus is that it’s apt to stay open as long as people are buying.

The View from the Balcony
Sometimes just sitting and looking at life's ordinary events tells us a lot about ourselves and the people around us. As the late afternoon envelops Beirut’s residents, they take refuge on the balcony, sipping coffee and thinking of tomorrow. Some spot their future spouse (or so they tell themselves) or watch the crazy drivers. As the afternoon turns to night, many retire to the nightly news. It is fruitless as they have already watched the truly meaningful events of the day.

Cricket in Ain Saade
On a Sunday afternoons in the village of Ain Saade, young men take to a makeshift cricket field to resolve the week’s conflict as sportsmen.

The Coffee Peddler
He walks the streets with his silver jugs, lifting the lazy, the tired and the lonely. They come to this portable Starbucks to laugh and to taste his humble brew.

Model in training
Dreams of becoming Paris runway models are ever present—even in the back alleys of Achrafieh.

The Color Yellow
In a country of economic extremes, it is quite uncommon to see unparalleled extravagance. Here three cars, with mind-blowing value, paint a city street yellow with opulence.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

World Portrait: Rebuilding Lovers


Beirut, Lebanon—The sun slowly burns upon the horizon, shaking the dew from the rock and sand. A couple stops after walking hand in hand through the night to watch the new construction in the outskirts of Beirut.