Doha: The Cultural Village Foundation is set to launch the third annual Katara Oud Festival today under the theme “Al Kindi” the Muslim thinker and scholar.
Running until April 26, the festival is decorated with an Iraqi motif as Al Kindi was born in Iraq and opens from 10am until 10pm and features Oud performances at the Opera House where Oud maestros from across the globe will enchant the audience with an extraordinary mix of the East and the West in Oud tradition.
More than 35 prominent Oud players and manufacturers from Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Tunisia, Oman, Greece, Yemen, Syria and Iran are participating at this year’s festival. Renowned Oud manufacturers uch as Yacoub Jassim from Kuwait, Yasser Saleh from Iraq, Ibrahim Sukkar from Syria, Bars and Farouk from Turkey and Yahia Abulfazel from Iran are taking part at the festival. Katara’s First Oud Festival was held in March 2017 and was dedicated to Ziryab, the legendary musician of the Arab and Islamic world, while the second was under the theme of Al Farabi
A documentary about Yacoub bin Ishaq Al Kindi will be screened. Besides his important contributions in math and science, Al Kindi played a big role in enriching traditional music.
The daily Oud performances begins at 8pm at the Opera House in building 16 by the most famous Oud musicians around the world, with a workshop on Oud manufacturing held in building 19 in between.
Gifted Oud makers from across the globe are displaying their skills and craftsmanship on the sidelines of the Festival. The exhibition is also showcasing antique Oud instruments made by legendary luthiers (makers of stringed instruments). In addition, the Festival is featuring lectures and forums on Oud making. The four-day festival will conclude with an amazing musical show dedicated to Al Kindi.
