John Berberbian: Oud Master

TAQS.IM Middle Eastern Music

Andrew sits down and interviews Oud master John Berberian about his life, 50-year career in music, balancing work and the arts and performing throughout the country.

Topics Include:

• Working with record labels making albums with Mainstream Records, Verve Forecast, RCA and MGM starting in the early 1960s
• The thriving Middle Eastern music scene of Berberian's early years, and the mixing and collaboration of different cultures
• Berberian's father's role as an oud player in his musical development, and the initial design to start with the violin
• Using western classical approaches to play Middle Eastern music
• The comparison of Ravi Shankar and the Sitar to the industry effort to promote the oud
• The landmark oud rock album
• Berberian's love of Arab music
• Discussion of different types of oud playing
• The symbiotic relationship of the oud and the guitar and making music with these instruments together
• Advice to those learning the oud