THE ARGHOUL/YARGHOUL
A folk musical instrument from the woodwind family of instruments. It was historically known in Egypt and the Levant, specifically in the plain of Hauran and Palestine, where it is considered one of the most widely used musical instruments in social events and gatherings until now. The Arghoul/Yarghoul is made of reed or cane wood, and consists of two pipes joined together, one longer than the other. The short pipe has six fingering holes, each hole representing a specific note, while the long pipe produces a single note that accompanies the melody, and this is what distinguishes the Arghoul and gives it a unique sonic identity.
THE BUZUQ
It is an instrument from the family of long-necked string instruments. It is popular in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, and is particularly well-known among Roma and nomadic communities. It consists of a sound box, which is often made from walnut or mulberry wood, and a surface made from spruce wood. It has a long stem/neck made from beech wood. The neck/stem is fitted with black frets called “Dasateen” (the Persian word for frets), which are used to mark the positions of the notes. The Buzuq is fitted with six or four strings, which are tied at the end of the neck using metal pegs.
THE DAFF
A percussion instrument made from a round, hollow piece of wood with a medium width. A piece of cow, goat, or sheep skin is stretched over the wooden frame. This instrument is well-known in many cultures and traditions, such as Arabic and Persian cultures. In addition to its presence in folk music, the Daff is used in the Islamic religious ceremonies.
THE KAMANCHEH
A stringed instrument from the same family as the Iranian Kamancheh and the Iraqi Jozeh. However, this form of Kamancheh is particularly known among the Kurds and is considered one of their traditional instruments. The sound box of the instrument is made from apricot or mulberry wood, with fish skin stretched over the surface of the box, and traditionally, deer skin was used. The stem/neck is made from beech wood. The Kamancheh has three strings and is played with a wooden bow.
Watch the making of the Kamancheh
THE KASSOOR
A percussion instrument and one of the main pillars of Al-Khashabah, a music genre known in the city of Basrah in southern Iraq. The Kassoor can be made from various materials such as clay, wood, or metal. Regardless of the material used, the shape of the frame is wide at both ends and narrows in the middle for ease of handling. A piece of skin, usually buffalo heart skin, is stretched over the top side. The Kassoor is distinguished by its remarkably high and sharp sound and is played using the fingers.
THE METAL RABABA
The Metal Rababa (or tin Rababa) comes from the same family as the wooden Rababa. It originated as an attempt to create a more cost-effective version of the instrument, as using wood and animal skins is more expensive. This form of Rababa is widespread in Iraq and Upper Mesopotamia. It is made from a metal box, usually a reused oil can, which is opened on the sides to enhance the sound projection. The neck is made of wood, and horsehair is used for both the string and the bow.
Watch the making of the Metal Rababa
THE MIHBAJ/MIHBASH
A wooden mortar made from the trunks of forest trees such as terebinth, oak, beech, carob, etc. The Mihbaj or Mihbash (as it is referred to in the Plain of Hauran) is used primarily for grinding grains and coffee, but over time it has become used as a percussion instrument that accompanies singers and musicians at weddings and different occasions, particularly in the Jordanian and Palestinian Bedouin deserts (Badiah). For example, “Al-Hjeini” is a popular musical form that is often accompanied by the distinctive beat of the Mihbash. In the process of making the Mihbash, two thirds of the trunk is hollowed out, and this bore ends in a narrower opening at the top, which is later covered with silver or copper. After the internal hollowing, the wood is then decorated on the outside, with four external bores created to reduce its weight. The Mihbash has a stick or pestle which is typically made from lighter and softer wood compared to the wood that the mortar is made from.
Watch the making of the Mihbaj/Mihbash
THE MEJWIZ/METBEG
A woodwind instrument, with “Mijwiz” meaning “dual” in colloquial terms, because it consists of two pipes. This instrument was historically found in the Levant, where it is known as “Mijwiz,” and in Iraq, where it is called “Metbeg.” The instrument is made from two bamboo pipes of equal length, which are glued together with a thread and beeswax. Two thin pieces of wood, known as “reeds,” are attached to the top of the pipes. These are the primary source of sound and the part where the player blows into. Playing the Metbeg is notable for the use of circular breathing, where the player uses a technique to continuously blow without interruption or pausing to take a breath, allowing them to play long melodies and produce a continuous tone.
Watch the making of the Mejwiz/Metbeg
THE MIZMAR
A woodwind instrument found in many civilizations, particularly in Western Asia and North Africa. Known as the Mizmar or Zurna in Kurdish, it belongs to the family of traditional wind instruments, and it is distinguished by its loud and powerful sound. This instrument has three main parts: the body, which is the longest part and is made from apricot or walnut wood. It is cylindrical in shape, widening at the bottom, and features seven holes for producing notes as well as additional holes at the bottom to amplify the sound. The second part is the double reed, made from cane and tied together with a thin thread. The reeds are short and sharp, and it is the part where the player blows into, being primarily responsible for producing the sound. The third part is the connector between the reeds and the body of the Mizmar. It is cylindrical piece, made of wood or metal, which is narrower than the body of the Mizmar. The reeds are inserted into the top of this connector, which in turn fits into the body of the Mizmar and contains holes for sound production.
THE NEY
A wind musical instrument made of wild cane/reed, and historically appeared in Egypt, Iraq, and the Levant. The exact period or the first civilization in which it appeared is not precisely known. This instrument is of one reed pipe, and it is distinguished by the length of the pipe, which contains nine knuckles, six finger holes and a seventh on the back. The Ney is unique in that it is one of the very few folk instruments that entered classical Arabic music and became an essential part of the oriental Takht instruments. For the Yazidis, the Ney has a religious significance, and it is only played by the Yazidi clerics.
Watch the making of the Ney
The Rababa/Rubab
This is the Arabic version of the Rababa, which is part of a family of musical instruments characterised by being wooden and having a single string, and they are played with a wooden bow and often share the same name. The Rababa appeared in ancient times across many civilizations, from India to Persia and the Arab world. Considering the raw materials used to make the Arabic Rababa, its place of origin can be inferred as the Arabian Desert (such as the Iraqi desert, the Euphrates, the Arabian Peninsula, and arid areas such as the Hermel District). These materials are beech wood to make the sound box, sheepskin to cover the surface of the box, a single string made of horsehair, and a wooden bow made of pomegranate wood or bamboo for its flexibility, over which another horsehair string is stretched.
Watch the making of the Rababa/Rubab
The Shabbabeh/Minjaira
A wind musical instrument, also known as the Minjaira, Banjira, or Qusseiba. It is renowned for its high-pitched, whistle-like sound, which is attributed to the slim and relatively short size of its reed (approximately 38 cm). The Shabbabeh is particularly famous in the deserts of Jordan and the Hauran plain in general, as well as in Hermel, where it is called the Minjaira. Traditionally, it was made solely from cane, but more recently, musicians have begun using metal pipes due to their lighter weight and ease of drilling.
Watch the making of the Shabbabeh/Minjaira
The Tabel
This instrument is considered one of the oldest documented percussion musical instruments and is said to be more than five thousand years old and has appeared in various forms in several civilizations. This form of drum is known in Western Asia and is very popular among the Kurds and Roma, as well as in the Balkans. For making the Tabel, a wide, round frame made of cedar, pine, or walnut wood is used. Two pieces of cow, sheep, or camel skin are stretched over the wooden frame on both sides, with the stretching done using a thin rope. To beat the Tabel, there is a wide stick for the front side and a thin stick for the back side. The Tabel is used in different events and celebrations, and it was historically used in wars to motivate warriors.
Watch the making of the Tabel
The Saz/Tanbur
A stringed instrument from the long-neck lute family, also known as the Tanbur. The Saz is present in Yazidi, Kurdish, and Turkish cultures and holds significant importance in popular and religious musical heritage. It consists of a sound box, which is often made from walnut or mulberry wood, and a surface made from spruce wood. It has a long stem/neck made from beech wood. The neck/stem is fitted with black frets called “Dasateen” (the Persian word for frets), which are used to mark the positions of the notes. The Saz is fitted with seven strings, which are tied at the end of the neck using metal pegs.
Watch the making of the Saz/Tanbur
The Yazidi Daff
A sacred instrument in the Yazidi religion, it is a percussion instrument made from a round, hollow piece of wood with a medium width and features several cymbals- round brass plates designed to produce a specific resonance when struck. A piece of cow, goat, or sheep skin is stretched over the wooden frame. Yazidis believe that the one true God, along with angels, circled the universe during its creation using the Daf, hence its sanctity. Yazidis still use the Daff in prayers and religious ceremonies, and those who play sacred instruments are referred to as “Qawwal.”
Watch the making of the Yazidi Daff