Skills of playing in string musical instrument chang (like harp).

Oud is the name of a short-necked lute-type musical instrument that is a plucked chordophone instrument with a historical background dating back to ancient times, in both countries. It is placed on the player's leg, and the performer stops the frets with the fingers of one hand and plucks with the other hand. The oud in both Syria and Iran consists of a sound box, which looks pear-shaped and is made of ribs of either walnut, rose, poplar, ebony or apricot wood. Walnut wood is usually the wood of choice because of its flexibility and beautiful color gradients. The ribs were shaped by moulds. The neck is attached to a soundbox which bears a pegbox. Three soundholes are made on the soundboard for technical and decorative reasons. Crafting a complete Oud takes 20-25 days. The natural wood is left to dry and harden, then it is treated with water and steam for a period of 15 days to build its durability. Ouds are crafted in different sizes for different sized-bodies, and beautifully decorated with wodden carvings and mosaic patterns. The soundboard is sometimes decorated in Eslimi patterns. The instrument slightly varies in size in different regions. The number of oud strings in both countries are 5 twin strings, and a sixth string can be added to the oud according to the wish of each craftsman by making additional tunes. The compass of this instrument is in bass and baritone ranges. It can produce both melodic and harmonic tones. It is performed solo as well as in ensembles. As this Human-Rights-friendly element is historically deep-rooted in the region, it is played in a very wide range of events including weddings, cultural events, festivals, family gatherings, and funerals accompanied by traditional songs and dance. Therefore, it serves as an identity-marker. The element is transmitted through master-apprentice training and it is also taught through musical centres and institutes, colleges and universities in urban areas. Players of both genders usually undergo years of training, and a skilled practitioner is able to improvise tunes. Grafters are mostly men although in recent years young women have developed an interest in crafting.

Iran,Syria 2022

The element is recognized as one of the main elements of cultural and social identity for the regions in which it is crafted and played. The bearers and practitioners are mostly farmers including men as crafters and players and women as players, and recently a number of them are young researchers of both genders. Its traditional knowledge of crafting and playing is informally transmitted through generations by the master-student method. This element is seen in local, oral and written literature (including local poems, proverbs, chants and lullabies) which constitute a part of nature, history, and background of the bearers. As this element is shared by a number of communities, groups and individuals, it brings mutual respect and understanding amongst the communities concerned. Dotār is a folkloric plucked-string musical instrument that has been played in social and cultural events/spaces such as weddings, parties, celebrations, ritual ceremonies etc. Dotār has a bowl which is pear-shaped and made of dried wood of dead mulberry tree and its neck is made of apricot or walnut wood. It has two strings traditionally made of silk which been replaced with metal wires nowadays. Some believe that one string is male and functions as accord and the other is female which plays the main melody. The crafters also repect nature as they use dead and dried wood for making Dotār. It is not in opposition toward the national and international instruments like Universal Human Rights Declaration, sustainable development , etc.

Iran 2019