HISTORICAL-EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OUD INSTRUMENT IN EASTERN MUSICAL CULTURE

This article provides a comprehensive study of the historical origins, structure, and cultural significance of the oud — one of the oldest and most prestigious instruments of Eastern music. The article traces the oud's development from the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt through the Arab Caliphate, Persian, and Central Asian cultures, as well as its influence on the European lute. The contributions of great scholars al-Farabi and Ibn Sina to oud theory, its role in the Uzbek-Tajik Shashmaqom tradition, and contemporary performance schools are examined. The article demonstrates that over its 5,000-year history, the oud has evolved into a universal musical language uniting the cultures of diverse peoples.