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Michigan Heritage Awards
Arts Nomination Form
Community Leadership Nomination Form
^ MHA Awardees List ^
Photo by William G. Lockwood
Photo by William G. Lockwood
2006 awardee, Farmington Hills, (Oakland County),
Oud Musician
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1921, to a family of musicians, Abdul Karim
Bader learned to play oud at the age of seven from his father and grandfather
and soon thereafter, violin and cello at the conservatory of music in France.
As an adult he performed with some of the major artists of the Middle East
and also served as music director at various radio stations before becoming
Director of Music Programs at Iraqi Radio and Television.
In the 1970s Karim traveled to the United States to perform for Arab and
American audiences. In 1972 he decided to stay. He has since performed traditional
and classical Arabic music all over the United States, Europe, Australia,
and South America. He often performs with the Dearborn Traditional Ensemble.
Music is Karim’s profession and hobby, and the oud is his “best
friend.” According to Dearborn Traditional Ensemble leader Nadim Dlaikan,
the oud is the “key instrument to achieve the sound of true Arabic
melodies.” It is often referred to as the “king of all instruments.”
Shaped like half a pear with a short fretted neck, the oud has six courses
of two strings played with a plectrum. Because of its popularity, many play
the oud, but few come close to Karim’s artistry and his knowledge
of Arab classical and traditional music. Students of Arab heritage and other
Americans seek him as a teacher. In 2005, with support of a Michigan Traditional
Arts Apprenticeship award, Karim continued to mentor his student Laith Alattar,
passing on his enthusiasm, love, and knowledge of the oud and Arabic music.
In the same year, the Arab American Arts Institute honored him with the
Golden ‘Ud Award. In recognition of his superb artistry on the oud
and his dedication to the perpetuation of this musical art form, Karim is
honored with a 2006 Michigan Heritage Award.
--William G. Lockwood, fieldworker
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