Re: R: Indian/middle eastern sounds, microtonality

[Bizurko@aol.com]

I opted for the "oud purist" route---altho there's a couple different 
"standard" oud tunings (depending on what part of the world you're using 
as a 
reference point), 
if you wanna really learn the instrument and be able to command it and get 
the full flavor out of it, you should learn to play it according to its' 
tradition, I believe.
Deviate later, after you know the instrument intimately enough to know 
what 
you're deviating from. Like anything else, it's an investment of 
resources, 
since "there ain't no free lunch".
Also, I found it imperative to use a the eagle feather-derived "risha" 
(nowadays made out of plastic) as opposed to a guitar pick, as the sound 
difference is notable.

I'm all for pushing the envelope and experimentation, but I'm wary of 
diletantes, as that ends up being self-indulgent all too often, it seems.

David Burk