Mizmar, Mzmar, Zurna, Zorna Surnai, Gaïta, Surnay

Very typical instrument of the popular Egyptian music Cottage (Sha’ab) , is a kind of oboe cone-shaped, very sound and compelling. It consists of three pieces of wood, with 7 holes on the front and one on the back.  Playing with the technique of circular breathing: the musician trap air in the cheeks that will push the instrument during inspiration, so do not ever stop the flow of air out.  This technique, also used to play the ‘ arghoul , makes it sound like that of a bagpipe. Mizmar The term also indicates the group of musicians, such Zummarin, usually a duo or trio, which traditionally accompanies the more percussive sound from those used in Egyptian music: the Tablah Baladi, a double bass drum skin.

The mizmar are the typical instrument used in rural weddings and accompanies dance very well.  In Egypt there are three types of mizmar, with different length and register. The smaller, the higher sound, is called Sibs, to mid-sized Shalabîya or “mizmar Sa’idi, the largest Telf.

In other neighboring countries, such as Syrian-Lebanese area, the mizmar, influenced by Zorna is also called Turkish or zamr zamour, and accompanies the dance of the folklore that the area is called Dabkah.

Given the great sound of this instrument, not traditionally used to accompany songs sung: unless you play a lot with the volume control with a powerful audio mixer, the mizmar completely cover the singer’s voice.

The middle eastern oboe plays an important role in folk music from China to Morrocco. It’s a double reed instrument called mizmar in Egypt, and named zurna in Turkey. In China the Uygur people used the surnai or surnay in their music and in Iran it’s known under the name sorna or sornay which means literally “strong flute”. The word nay means flute. According to other sources sorna simply means horn. The Nepalese version of the is in a cresent form and looks more like a horn. Another related instrument is the Indian shehnai which contains the same root “nai”.