Oudmigrations is dedicated to the journeys of ouds, their histories, and the stories attached to their makers, players, and owners.Research for Oudmigrations is led by Professor Rachel Beckles Willson, who holds a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust. Please follow the menus above to find articles about Journeys, Histories and Stories. The Oud Blog offers shorter, sometimes lighter texts.
We would like this site to be a gathering point for ouds and their stories. Please browse and and get in touch if you would like to share information. We would be pleased to host guest writers, or are happy to write about your instruments ourselves if you prefer, in the interest of sharing more journeys and histories of ouds.
When we launched in April 2016 we focused on ouds made during the rule of the Ottomans. We have been interested in tracing journeys that these historical ouds have made, ways that oud construction developed regionally over time, changes in the music-social worlds of the oud, and how instrument collecting affects our memories of the Ottoman era.
Since autumn 2016 we have broadened our scope to include more recent histories, contemporary events, and new oud trends.
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This is wonderful and a unique resource – I wonder if you could extend the stories to include all ouds and celebrate contemporary makers – I was excited to have an oud made in Athens and play it in London, for example
Hello Ian, thank you for your nice comment. Yes, that is my long-term plan. In this first stage I’m in search of Ottoman instruments, but I’ll open up in due course! And I’ll be calling for suggestions then, and will be interested in your story of course.
This is an excellent site for those of us who are interested in the oud. Thank you
Thanks Andy, very nice to meet you here!
Good Morning, I’ve been trying to find out about 2 oud makers from Greece. In my search there doesn’t appear to any information about them. They built other instrument also. Any information on their names and their instruments, especially ouds, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
I forgot to add non contemporary Armenian oud makers from Greece.
Hello Rachel, I asked the question on Greek Armenian oud makers on Mike’s Ouds. A member posting as dario answered with these names: Tsakirian, Apartian, and Zozef TerZivasian known for his bouzoukis and believed built ouds too under the name Zozef. Hopefully someone will have more information on these oud makers / luthiers.
This is an inspiring site.
Congratulations indeed!
Daoud and Bahij Arbach, makers of the Arbachoud in Ottawa Canada
Thank you! Glad you find it inspiring!