Rahim AlHaj NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

November 13, 2015 by SURAYA MOHAMED Ancestor to the lute and the guitar, the oud ‎is an ancient stringed instrument commonly played throughout the Middle East, North Africa and countries like Greece and Turkey. The oud has charmed audiences for more than 5,000 years, and the tradition continues with this reverent performance by one of the world's best players, Rahim AlHaj.

Born in Baghdad, AlHaj possesses a life story as powerful as his music. He learned to play the oud at age 9, and later graduated with honors and a degree in music composition from the Institute of Music in Baghdad. He also earned a degree in Arabic literature from Mustunsiriya University in Baghdad. Active in the underground revolutionary movement, AlHaj wrote protest songs opposing Saddam Hussein's repressive regime. He was imprisoned twice, once for a year and a half, and was regularly beaten by his captors. In 1991, AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq because of his political activism, and ultimately found a home in New Mexico.

Today, he composes traditional and contemporary pieces for a variety of ensembles — solo oud, string quartets and symphony orchestras. He performs around the world and has even collaborated with Kronos Quartet and R.E.M. AlHaj stopped by the Tiny Desk while in Washington, D.C., to receive a well-deserved NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

The set starts with a solo performance, followed by three songs in which he's accompanied by Palestinian-American percussionist Issa Malluf. Malluf plays the daf, a large circular drum with a hardwood frame, and a stretched and shaved goat skin that produces a gently melodic tonality. The dumbek is a goblet-shaped drum with a tight head make of goatskin, heated by a lamp to keep the skin taut in order to produce a consistent tone.

Though wordless, AlHaj's music tells powerful stories about the blessedness and fragility of life. The first song is intended to serve as a voice for millions of displaced and murdered Iraqi children whose cries will never be heard. Small but powerful, the oud reveals their stories of joy and pain while conveying a deep understanding of their sad history and hopeful future.

Little Earth is available now.

Set List
"Dream"
"Warm Voice"
"Friendship"
"Flying Bird"

Credits
Producers: Suraya Mohamed, Morgan Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Walker, Nick Michael, Julia Reihs; Production Assistant: Kate Drozynski; Photo by Julia Reihs/NPR

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[onemorecowswag]

Albuquerque local here, I'm late to the party but I remember busking at cottonwood mall one afternoon and Mr. Alhaj stood and listened for some time before dropping a $20 into the banjo case lol. The woman he was with mentioned he was a musician and Mr. Alhaj played it off very modestly, I had no idea who he was and didn't think much of it. Now almost 2 years later I come across this video and spent a good 20 minutes trying to figure out why in the hell I recognized this guy and then it clicked!! Small crazy world


UPDATE: I'm writing now in August 2019 and I ran into him again! I shared a flight with his wife and he was at the airport picking her up. I talked with him a while by the baggage claim and told him this story. Super super nice guy even told me to call him by his name, his wife was very sweet too. THANKS RAHIM YOU''RE AWESOME!

[wahaaj]

He’s from my city, the immortal Baghdad that will keep producing majestic creativity no matter what happens to her.

[Lara-xuyc]

My Greek 97 year old grandfather plays this instrument. Absolutely gorgeous instrument 🧡🧡🧡

[Callie]

Politicians try and tell us that its our cultures that separate us. Music tells us that it's our cultures that unite us all, as one people.

[monamajnoona]

Oud brings back memories of childhood & my uncle playing after family dinner.

[sammaris]

the way he flicks between using the pick and then his thumb is insane. skills and beauty combine. humans can really be awsome

[goshiamhandsome]

Wow I playing this and my kids all ran into the room and started dancing. Music transcends cultures and time!

[Schodboyblves]

I am always in awe of people who can play fret less instruments

[TweedSuit]

The lamp inside the drum is to heat up the skin. The drum is made of clay and the skin is usually goat or calf skin which is glued on. The heat from the lamp stretches the skin which tightens up the tone and sensitivity.

[fluctura]

Wow, the percussion! What an underrated musical discipline. He's awesome!

[saeedorandi]

Rahim, I love your performance, best wishes for you and Iraqi people, greeting from Iran.

[pollinseclectic]

More than 600, 000 people have seen this video - things have changed for the better. Some years ago you wouldn't get such a large number for music that isn't western pop/rock/folk/classic. Brilliant playing

[daskloppenfield]

NPR seems to be on to something good
and is sharing the wealth
among us all

[TheHatMusic]

There are sadly very few oud players in the uk, and it's made it very hard to learn. It's only through youtube videos that I've been able to find musicians who have been a source of inspiration to me with my own learning, and now there's another. This is just wonderful!

[hehe]

Aside from the incredible music, also can't get over how beautiful this man is.

[andersingram]

what a wonderful pair of musicians

the percussionists skills as an accompanist are a joy to watch

[Xochiyolotl]

So beautiful! Absolutely sublime. Very moving. Guitar player here. I am amazed at how expressive this instrument is. This man is truly a master of it.

[jclark]

I love the subtle technical brilliance of the drummer. It's lovely hearing the doumbek/darbuka played with such subtlety.

[gQuaresma]

I love NPR ♥
You guys are the best! thanks for bringing middle eastern music to NPR audience!

[markrcoffin]

Awesome. Just happened upon this after searching YouTube for OUD. I thoroughly enjoyed this. After watching, I looked at the description, and turns out this happened on my birthday. Thank you for the wonderful gift!