The dominance of electronic sounds in today’s music has eclipsed traditional instruments such as the lute (or oud), but a visit to Mohamed Ali Street proves that this string instrument is still an essential sound in oriental music.
In what used to be the hub of Egyptian music, several lute workshops can be found on Mohamed Ali Street, catering to oriental music lovers of all kinds.
Piles of wooden lutes sit in the corner of these workshops waiting for the final touches. The finished products on display in shop window show the elaborate craftsmanship that go into making the lute – some are inlaid with precious stones.
In these workshops, lute-makers assemble pieces, fix strings and test the instrument before its ready for sale.
“For a while, the industry was going through a slump, but that is a thing of the past, said Samy Afifi, a lute-maker employed by Ahmed Abdel Halim, owner of one of the well-known lute outlets in the area.
“At the beginning of the 1970s, modern instruments like the electronic guitar and the keyboard were introduced to our music and there was an invasion [of these instruments], said Afifi.
Now, says the skilled craftsman, the lute-making industry is booming as many Egyptians, Arab nationals and even Europeans are taking interest in oriental music. This renewed demand for the lute, he said, proves that the generation is keen to learn about classical Arabic music.
According to Afifi, there are a small number of workshops that specialize in producing customized instruments for musicians and composers. But students don’t need custom-made instruments, and they can easily find a lute sold in stores.
“An increasing number of students are now studying the lute, kanoun and drum rhythms – the three cornerstones of oriental music, said Afifi.
Abdallah Salah, lute player and music teacher, said that “some think the lute is a minor instrument that is studied along with others, but some students do specialize only in the lute.
The most reputed workshop on Mohamed Ali Street is that of Gamil George, founded in 1906. Famous musicians like Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Farid El Atrash were regular customers.
Geroge’s staff claims that Om Kulthoum visited the store as a young girl to choose her lute.
Each part of the instrument is made of a different kind of wood, a variation that is intended to enhance sound quality.
The deep round back is made of white wood and it is actually what differentiates a Turkish lute from its Egyptian, Iraqi or Farsi cousin. The neck is the most important part of the instrument, according to the makers, since it holds the strings that control the tunes. The final part of the lute is the soundboard, which is covered with a grille that also serves as a decorative item.
Once those are properly carved, the lutes are ready to be shined and put on display.
According to Afifi, prices range between LE 150 to LE 1,200.
“The more loaded the piece is with ornamental items, the heavier and the less sonically effective it becomes. The lute-maker doesn’t have to know how to play the lute to make a good instrument, he said.
“The Egyptian lute continues to be the best and most affordable kind, added Afifi.
