The Arghul

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The Arghul

Throughout history, the reed instruments including the Arghul, Jirba, Mijwiz, Mizmar, Mizward, Ney-anban, and Rhaita have evolved into a very distinct type of Arabic sound we hear today in the modern Middle East. While all of these instruments play an important and distinctive role in their respective musical cultures, however, the Arghul stands out as perhaps the most prominent of the reed instruments as it is perhaps the oldest in the Middle Eastern region, having been adapted by many different cultures in the greater Middle East. The Arghul has affected the musical tone, ceremonial occasions, and culture of the Middle East today. It’s essentially the instrument Europeans think of when they hear Arabic music.

The History of the Arghul and Its Impact on History

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Arghul’s origins hail as far back as 3000 BCE when the Ancient Egyptians used double reed instruments in many of their religious ceremonies. Since then, the Arghul has spread farther than the banks of the Nile, including a majority of the Middle East and Turkey. It is featured prominently in the traditional musical culture of Egypt, yet many variations of the Arghul exist in other regions, such as the Mizmar in Syria.

Perhaps one of the most important contributions to musical history is what’s called the drone pipe which spread from ancient Middle and Near East to the north to Europe, to the east to India, and to the south to Africa. A drone in music is a continuously sounded note or chord throughout the duration of the song. Since the Middle Eastern prevalence of the drone, many other musicians have adopted its usage into their own songs, including classical music and a lot of modern music today, including pop...

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...en of all ages, usually at festive occasions such as weddings. The Cifetetelli, while it features the violin more than the Arghul, still has that reedy, buzzing sound when played.

The Future of the Arghul

As the world seems to be adapting a unified culture due to globalization, one may wonder what the fate of a traditional instrument like the Arghul would be on a world stage. There’s no reason to worry though, as traditional folk music will always be around and the Arghul as well as other Middle Eastern reed instruments are a big part of that culture. The Arghul played a huge part in establishing the Middle Eastern musical identity and it will probably play a huge part in solidifying that identity for years to come. After all, the Arghul’s been around for around five thousand years; there’s no reason to believe it won’t remain around for another thousand more.

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