Crafting and playing the Oud
As a multicultural nomination file, Crafting and Playing the Oud was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, during the 17th Session of Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The session was held in Rabat, the capital of Moroco, between November 28- December 3, 2022. Accordingly, the number of Iran’s cultural items inscribed on lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage reached 18.
The oud is a kind of lute-type musical instrument which is traditionally popular in Iran. In order to play, the musician needs to put the instrument on their leg starting to fret with one hand, while plucking the chords with the other hand. Like other Persian musical instruments, oud includes different parts; in which a pear-shaped sound box, made of walnut wood, is the mane part. It takes a craftsman twenty-five days to craft an oud. The process consists of the time needed for drying and hardening the wood, fifteen days for treating wood with water and steam to make the wood more durable. In the most common form, oud includes five twin strings. However, it can also have an extra sixth string. Melodic and harmonic tones produced by oud is the result of its bass and baritone ranges. You might see oud in different events being played solo or in ensembles, along with some other traditional songs and dance. Playing oud is presently taught is different art centers, collages and universities. Some people also learn it through apprenticeships. Traditionally, men were more likely to craft oud, while nowadays we can see a lot of women occupied with this practice.
The history of crafting and playing oud can be realized from its recurring presence on the rock reliefs, as well as poets’ books and miniature folios. This musical instrument still plays a main part in defining the identity of Arab and Bakhtiari tribes in the southern parts of Iran, like Khuzestan, Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces. In addition, we can also witness the popularity of this kind of traditional music in other provinces of Iran including Tehran, Kurdistan, Shiraz, Isfahan and Khorasan.
Crafting and playing the Oud was previously inscribed on the National Heritage List in 2018. However, the recent file was submitted with Syrian Arab Republic. It should also be mentioned that seventeen items from Iran, or as multicultural files, had already gained the same UNESCO status, including: Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan (2010), Radif of Iranian music (2009), Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Fars (2010), Music of the Bakhshis of Khorasan (2010), Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals (2010), Ritual dramatic art of Ta‘zīye (2010), Naqqāli, Iranian dramatic story-telling (2011), Traditional skills of building and sailing Iranian Lenj boats in the Persian Gulf (2011), Qālišuyān rituals of Mašhad-e Ardehāl in Kāšān (2012), Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka (2016), Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz (2016), Art of crafting and playing with Kamantcheh/Kamancha, a bowed string musical instrument (2017), Chogān, a horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytelling (2017), Traditional skills of crafting and playing Dotār (2019), Art of miniature (2020), Pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus Apostle Monastery (2020), and the National programme to safeguard the traditional art of calligraphy in Iran (2021).
