The Oud

Munir Bashir

Munir Bashir was born in Mosul in northern Iraq into a musical family. He began to learn the oud at the age of five, along with the cello. He studied oud in Baghdad under the great masters and then moved to Hungary, where he gained his doctorate. He is regarded as the greatest oud player of all time and a master of Iraqi maqamat. Munir Bashir died in 1997. There is also a website dedicated to his life and music.

You can also hear Munir Bashir on the "Rare Recordings" page at www.mikeouds.com

Recital - Solo de Luth Oud (Live in Geneva)
(Club du Disque Arabe AAA003)

This is a recording of a concert in Geneva, which was given during Munir Bashir's first tour of Europe. Also featured on this CD are four pieces by Mohamed el-Kassabgi, an oud virtouso of the 1930s. The quality of the recording is not that good, but this is more than made up for by the content!

1. Maqam Nahawend 6:15
2. Maqam Rast 6:35
3. Maqam Kourdi 4:10
4. La Voix de l'Orient (The Voice of the Orient) 9:29
5. Le Oud Fou (The Crazy Oud)2:30
6. Hayra 5:20
7. L'Orient en Andalousie 3:10
Mohamed el-Kassabgi: Taqasim
8. Taqsim Bayati 3:06
9. Taqsim Saba 2:50
10. Taqsim Hidjaz 3:50
11. Dalaa el-Hawanem (Ladies' Coquetry) 2:59

Maqamat
(Inedit W260050)

This CD consists of a series of solo oud improvisations on Iraqi maqamat, including two composed by Bashir himself, Bashiri and al-Asil. The production quality is excellent and the music inspirational. The only criticism is that the CD notes could be more extensive, with more info on the structure of each maqam.

1. Maqam Bashiri (Munir Bashir) 12:34
2. Maqam Benjigah 11:03
3. Maqamat Mukhalif, Awshar, Sigah, Saba 16:34
4. Maqam al-Asil, invocation (Munir Bashir) 4:37
5. Maqam Rast 8:47

En Concert a Paris/Live in Paris
(Inedit W260006)

This is a recording of a concert by Munir Bashir at the Maison des Cultures du Monde in 1987. Four extended taqasim on various maqamat are presented, and the CD really captures the excitement of a live performance. This is another fine recording in the Inedit series.

1. Maqam Yekah, Aoudj 16:17
2. Maqam Nahawand 14:55
3. Maqam Bayat 12:30
4. Maqam Hijaz 12:32

Meditations
(Inedit W260071)

The pieces on this CD have a mystical flavour, going beyond taqasim to create 'composed improvisations'. Each piece alludes to a number of maqamat, and uses the regional origin of each maqam to create a particular mood. This is an ambitious CD from the acknowledged master of the Iraqi oud.

1. Du'a' - Invocation 27:23
2. Raja' - Imploration 12:51
3. Al-Naqa' - La purete 13:02
4. Al-Mawlawi 6:57

L'Art du 'Ud/The Art of the 'Ud
(Ocora C580068)

A beautiful recording from Ocora, with extensive CD notes by Simon Jargy on the structure of the maqamat used by Munir Bashir on this CD. The range of taqasim includes rarely heard Iraqi maqamat such as Awshar, Lami and Dasht. It is a pleasure to recommend this CD.

1. Taqsim en maqam Nahawand-Kabir 9:30
2. Taqsim en maqam Rast 6:30
3. Taqsim en maqam Hijaz kar kurd 3:34
4. Taqsim en maqam Awj 3:03
5. Taqsim en maqam Awshar 4:40
6. Taqsim en maqam Kurdi 4:25
7. Taqsim en maqam Lami 4:01
8. Taqsim en maqam Dasht 5:12

Oud Around the Arab World
(Voix de l'Orient VDL CD 567)

The Iraqi master of the oud presents a series of pieces including a number of Arab folk melodies from Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, as well as several compositions by Bashir himself. The oud is accompanied by percussion throughout and a wide variety of styles are represented.

1. Halam ya eid 2:52
2. Ya hnayina 4:27
3. Sanabel 2:43
4. Zourouni 2:38
5. Babel 2:28
6. Narine 1:37
7. Halala laya 3:37
8. Chawane 4:47
9. Akafoukim 2:57
10. Johnny Guitar 3:06
11. Tal'aa min beit abouha 2:19
12. Oum el khelkhal 4:37
13. Bent el chalabia 2:51
14. Bousra 3:03
15. Beyn el dawali 3:14
16. Himali wali 3:25
17. Khoutwa baad mountassaf el leil 3:33
18. Hourmane 1:55

Flamenco Roots
(Byblos BLCD 1002)

The title track of this CD is an extended piece, in which Bashir improvises on a series of maqamat that were influential in the development of flamenco music. The accompanying notes to the CD explain the background to each maqam used and its geographical significance.

1. Flamenco Roots 26:00
2. Maqam Al Rast 5:52
3. Maqam Huzam 8:55
4. Boulbol 10:10
5. Khayal 9:23

Concert in Budapest
(Voix de l'Orient VDL CD 665)

This is a live recording of a concert by Munir Bashir at the Matyas Church, Budapest in 1992. The CD features three taqasim and an original composition featuring church bells, organ and vocals accompanying the oud. The recording captures the atmosphere extremely well.

1. Taqsim in Maqam Hijaz kar 15:17
2. Taqsim in Maqam Ajam 11:27
3. Taqsim in Maqam Rahawi 9:32
4. Nahawand 14:30

Duo de 'Ud (with Omar Bashir)
(Auvidis B 6874)

This pairing of Munir Bashir with his son Omar features a selection of Arab urban songs (baladi) recorded in 1994. The second oud is used within each piece to provide a 'dialogue' and echo of the first. Excellent notes to accompany the CD are provided by Simon Jargy.

1. Fog el-Nakhel (Above the Palm Trees) 12:38
2. Pasta Baghdadiyya (Popular Iraqi Tune) 8:00
3. Hanan (Tenderness) 12:37
4. Dabka (Iraqi Dance) 10:35
5. Ishtar (Assyrian-Babylonian Goddess of Fertility) 13:30
6. Al-Amira al-Andaluciyya (The Andalucian Princess) 11:35

Raga Roots
(Byblos BLCD 1021)

The pieces of music on this CD are inspired by Indian music and were found by Munir Bashir's children after his death in 1997. The oud is used very effectively to mimic some of the sounds of the sitar, and the tracks on this recording anticipate the numerous later collaborations between oud players and Indian musicians.

1. Raga Roots 20:30
2. Allah ou Akbar 14:37
3. From the Maqam to the Raga 22:45

The Stockholm Recordings
(Voix de l'Orient VDL CD 688)

The music on this CD was recorded at Radio Stockholm Studios in 1983, and features a number of extended improvisations on various maqamat. A relatively recent release that is well worth adding to the collection.

1. Maqam Hijaz Kar Kurd 'Hadarat' 23:55
2. Maqam Rast 'Diglah' 21:50
3. Maqam Hijaz Kar Kurd 'Al Hamra' 7:41

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