The stringed instrument known as the oud dates back to Mesopotamia. It’s deeply rooted in Arabic classical music and poetry.

For this week’s Global Notes, Radio M host Tony Sarabia and Jerome invited two oud masters from Chicago to join them in-studio.

Majed Abu Ajamiya plays with the Duzan Ensemble and teaches the oud at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Issa Boulos is a composer and lyricist who directs the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago.