mizmar
In Arabic music, a mizmār (plural مَزَامِير mazāmīr) is any single or double reed wind instrument. In Egypt and the Levant(Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan)the term mizmar usually refers to the conical shawm that is called zurna in Turkey and Armenia. The mizmar is traditionally crafted from a single piece of wood, such as apricot or plum, though modern versions may use metal for durability.
Also recorded as mizmār · sa’īdī mizmār · mazāmīr
mizmar
dalbera from Paris, France · La fête de la musique au centre culturel d'Egypte (Paris) · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Mizmar
- Field
- double reed instrument
- Region
- Egypt
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Documentary summary
In Arabic music, a mizmār (plural مَزَامِير mazāmīr) is any single or double reed wind instrument. In Egypt and the Levant(Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan)the term mizmar usually refers to the conical shawm that is called zurna in Turkey and Armenia. The mizmar is traditionally crafted from a single piece of wood, such as apricot or plum, though modern versions may use metal for durability.
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wikidata · Q1179086
In this article
Overview
Overview
Its conical body, typically 30-40 cm long, narrows from the base to the top and features seven finger holes and a thumb hole for pitch control. The double reed, made from a desert plant called Hagna, is attached via a bocal, a small metal or wooden tube, which enhances airflow precision. The instrument’s design allows for its distinctive sharp, penetrating sound, ideal for outdoor settings like weddings and festivals. Also a term used for a group of musicians, usually a duo or trio, that play a mizmar instrument along with an accompaniment of one or two double-sided bass drums, known in Arabic as tabl baladi or simply tabl. Mizmars are usually played in Egypt at either weddings or as an accompaniment to belly dancers. At Egyptian weddings, the Mizmar Baldi is accompanied with a belly dancer to greet the bride and groom. In The Levant a higher-pitched version of the mizmar exists and is used for Zaffes(Levantine Traditional Wedding celebration)accompanied by the Tabl, Derbake and daf and may also be known in those countries as a zamr (زمر) or zamour, as well as mizmar. In Morocco and Algeria a similar instrument is called ghaita or rhaita (غيطة). Along with belly dancing, the mizmar may accompany the dabke, a folkloric line dance done in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and a similar dance called Chobi in Iraq.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mizmar • Classification — Double reed • Related — *Sorna • Rhaita • Suona • Sopila • Shawm
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- Egypt
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mizmar is associated with Egypt.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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