The Oud

Hussein el-Masry

Hussein el-Masry was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1952 and is a virtuoso oud player, composer and singer. He studied at the Institute of Arab Music in Cairo. In 1977 he moved to Paris. He now lives in Montpellier, France with his wife and daughter. Hussein el-Masry recently participated in the International Oud Meeting.

King's Valley
(Kardum KAR 263)

This CD from the Egyptian oud master features a series of compositions accompanied by guitar, keyboards, violin, qanun and percussion.

1. Feluks in the river 13:48
2. Sun in the sand 8:20
3. Longa El Masry 9:04
4. King's Valley 14:12
5. Saqqarah nights 7:24

Zagal
(Auvidis B 6781)

On this recording we find Arab music combined with classical Indian music. Hussein el-Masry is accompanied by Narenda Bataju on sitar and Anand Kumar on tabla, combined with an assortment of traditional Arab instruments.

1. Mawal 7:45
2. Venise 6:10
3. Taksim 4:48
4. Zagal 16:15
5. Dream 5:35
6. Rabab 8:17

Nomade
(Kardum KAR 994)

On this CD el-Masry presents a selection of Arab music accompanied by various percussion instruments.

1. Rue de l'orient 8:37
2. Takasim 12:11
3. Andalousie 5:24
4. Samai aloud 6:37
5. Nomade 14:10
6. Abydos 6:58

Zekrayat (Souvenirs)
(MHEL 547)

Another great series of compositions featuring the oud together with a selection of Arab instruments. The track 'Souvenirs' features el-Masry on solo oud.

1. Au Fil du Nil 23:33
2. Parfum d'Orient 5:22
3. Bedouin 5:25
4. Souvenirs 8:29
5. Zekrayat 6:11
6. Bashraf 5:16
7. Elfayoum 4:24

Solitaire
(MHEL 548)

An album of solo oud compositions from the Egyptian master.

1. Les Berberes 5:22
2. Solitaire 7:58
3. Terhal 5:32
4. Printemps de Paris 3:28
5. Mediterranee 3:46
6. Bashraf 5:43
7. Ya Balady! 5:01
8. Nuit d'ete 8:26
9. Aventure

Entre Nil et Gange (Between the Nile and the Ganges)
(Institut du Monde Arabe 321021)

On this recording Hussein el-Masry is accompanied by the sitar player Narenda Bataju, who was a pupil of the great Ravi Shankar and was first heard together with el-Masry on his earlier album Zagal (see above). Also featured is the master of percussion Adel Shams el-Din on riqq and daff, together with Hanif Khan on tabla. The music takes the form of a single, long improvisation almost an hour in length and is an extended dialogue between oud and sitar.

1. Entre Nil et Gange/Maqam Shahnaz 53:53

Nuits d'Orient
(MHEL 549)

This excellent CD from the Egyptian oud virtuoso presents a varied selection of music.

1. Africa 6:11
2. Nostalgie 7:03
3. Badaweya 5:27
4. Melodie Voyageuse 5:29
5. El Fayoum 4:27
6. Zephyr 4:15
7. Balade 5:47
8. Nuits d'Orient 6:27

Recital
(MHEL 551)

A mixture of instrumental and vocal pieces - if you enjoyed his previous recordings then you will love this one.

1. Amarna 5:43
2. Samhini 3:50
3. Recital 9:31
4. Salam 6:24
5. Cle du Nil 2:23
6. Garib 7:09
7. Elegance 6:41
8. Longa de Minuit 6:16
9. Yatawaf 5:21

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