Classical Detour: The Lute and the Oud ***
Jul 14th, 2006 · A stroll off the beaten path of the classics leads inexorably to the lute -- and its Arabic precursor, the oud. From the NPR studios, lutenist Hopkinson Smith plays a Bransle de Poitou, from 16th-century France. Then, oud player Ramiro Amusategui improvises on a traditional Moroccan tune.