Iran's bucolic musical instrument makes big comeback
Iran’s bucolic musical instrument makes big comeback Agence France-Presse © Provided by The Manila Times TEHRAN: The Oriental lute is making a comeback in Iran after decades in the shadows as musicians reconnect with an instrument integral to Arab and Turkish musical tradition in a fragmented region. Known as the oud in Arabic, it is commonly called the barbat in Persian, although some would argue the instruments differ slightly. “The number of (oud) students has increased considerably over the past 15 years or so; before a known teacher would have had a dozen students w...