�Willson is equal parts musician and scholar, which positions her perfectly to tell the complex story of the oud � Willson�s comprehensive history draws upon folklore, design, and politics � In addition to tracing its movement across continents and its changing role in society, Willson explores in detail the construction, tuning, and fretting of the oud and maps its changing shape and sound up to the current moment. The book is lavishly illustrated with ancient and contemporary images that help tell the story of this fascinating instrument.�
� Booklist
�Extensively researched history with musical appeal, Rachel Beckles Willson�s illustrated book is an ode to the decorated instrument�s past �The topics covered include how the instrument was built, the materials used for its construction, the variations in the types of ouds, its changing repertoires and the lives of past and present virtuosos, such as the Iraqi musician Munir Bashir and Syrian-Egyptian film star Farid El Atrash. The text is enriched with illustrations, such as ancient Gandharan friezes, a drawing of various types of ouds by Napoleon's team in Egypt and more generally ouds of various shapes and sizes. The Oud: An Illustrated History will appeal not only to aficionados of chordophones�instruments that use vibrating strings to make sound�but anyone with curiosity about the culture and history of the Middle East.�
� The National
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�In this engaging work, Beckles Willson � offers the complex story of the oud, a short-necked, unfretted lute�that has been a mainstay in Middle Eastern and North African music for soloists and in musical ensembles for centuries. Paired with photos, illustrations and other graphics, the book chronicles the evolution of the instrument � Beckles Willson�s multifaceted exploration of the instrument, details everything from oud construction to its most legendary players. Readers can even hear their distinctive styles through the included QR codes, bringing the world of ouds to life.�
� AramcoWorld