For Oud musicians, the physical form of the instrument is so much more than just a source of music, it is an extension of the body and soul by which artists can express themselves. This is how Fatima al Balushi, an Omani Oud player, expressed her love for this instrument.
To be a master oud player, just like other musicians, a person must not only rely on raw talents but rather enhance them by doing meticulous practice, dedicating long hours to knowing the instrument in and out and the music it produces as well as understanding what makes a good musician.
Growing up, Fatima used to go to sleep listening to oud music. Even in her dreams, she is lulled and bewildered by the music each string makes.
“It is the only instrument that I could feel gathering all emotions together, moving smoothly to the ears”, she said.
From this fascination with the sound it produces and while she was finishing her higher diploma, the Oud performance and solos were her constant companions.
“The credit goes to oud players who have superbly and succinctly presented their music to the audience by incorporating their individual inputs and by presenting it pleasantly’’, she shared.
“Like other ancient musical instruments, Oud managed to resonate to a lot of people inspiring these people to become admirers and followers. The versatility of the instrument and its uniqueness and ability to affect people from different walks of life is what keeps its legacy alive even in modern times’’, she said.
“But of course, an instrument is just an instrument. Had it not been for some great musical maestros, the legacy of oud would have not been possible today. We could have easily lost it to oblivion. These maestros definitely include Naseer Shamma and Marcel Khalife’’, she said.
When she finally decided to take oud playing seriously, Fatima has to contend with the community’s perception. When she was starting out, some people believed that oud playing is not a field for women to join.
“Even now, I still meet people who can’t accept the idea of a woman, me in particular, being a musician. It is difficult to convince them to change their minds and it requires a lot of patience and understanding’’, she said.
“Thankfully though, after countless hours dedicated to refining my skills, what kept me going are those people who were very kind and supportive. I was fortunate to find a great support system, people who believed that a woman can add beauty to everything in life, people who don’t look at gender but rather the talent of the person and a person’s ability to master the instrument well’’, she said.
Other than delivering something different in the world of music, Oud has managed to win the hearts and the minds of western audiences as well.
“I have participated in the ceremony of the Sultanate of Oman’s embassy in the Brazilian capital “Brasilia” to represent the Sultanate of Oman on the National Day in 2014. It was a huge event and it was extremely touching to see them enjoy an oud performance by a woman’’, she said.
Fatima’s dedication to her craft would bring her to different places. Other than performing in different big venues within the Sultanate of Oman, some of Fatima’s biggest breaks include being asked to participate in the Sultanate of Oman’s National Day celebration in Abu Dhabi in 2014 as well as regaling listeners and guests during the Sultanate of Oman Embassy celebration in Riyadh.
“I am very proud for being part of the celebration of the rural woman products expo that was presided over by the honourable lady, spouse of His Majesty Sultan. This invitation to the female musicians highlights the importance given by the royal family to music and female musician in particular”, Fatima shared.
“One of the realisations I had which I wanted to share with other female musicians is this: When a woman embarks on a path, whether pursuing a dream or a career, there will be many conflicts and obstacles along the way. To be successful, it would have to take a lot of hard work and patience but above all, it is to keep your eyes on the prize — on the thing that you wanted to achieve’’, she said.
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