How Damascus Oud Makers Are Keeping Syrian Heritage Alive
DAMASCUS — In a workshop filled with the scent of walnut wood and the sound of hand tools, Syrian craftsman Firas Salka carefully shapes what will become a Damascus oud, one of the Arab world’s most iconic musical instruments.
Over several months, each piece of wood is carved, assembled, and polished by hand before it is ready to produce the rich sound that has defined the instrument for centuries. More than just a musical instrument, the Damascus oud is regarded as one of Syria’s most enduring traditional crafts, combining woodworking, decorative arts, and musical heritage.
Salka said the oud represented both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, combining traditional craftsmanship with musical performance. He noted that Syrian oud-making evolved significantly over the past century, earning an international reputation for quality.
In 2022, the craftsmanship and performance traditions associated with the oud were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
According to Salka, producing a high-quality oud begins with selecting the right wood, particularly Damascus walnut, prized for its durability and acoustic properties. Syrian craftsmen traditionally embellish ouds with mother-of-pearl and mosaic inlays, enhancing the instrument’s appearance without altering its acoustic performance.
Bilal Ahmad, another Syrian instrument maker, said oud production depends on the expertise of several specialized craftsmen. While traditional techniques remain largely unchanged, many makers now use treated nylon and carbon-fiber strings instead of natural strings, improving durability and tuning stability.
For Syrian artisans, preserving the Damascus oud is about more than maintaining a traditional profession. It is also about safeguarding a cultural legacy while creating opportunities for Syrian handicrafts to reach wider international markets.
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