Arghul The arghul is a cane folk clarinet found in the Nile region of Egypt and a sister instrument to the midjweh. The arghul differs from the midjweh in having only one melody pipe and one drone pipe, and can vary greatly in size. The drone pipe on the arghul can be much longer than the melody pipe, and there are some instruments where the drone reaches over 2 metres, or yards, in length. Like the midjweh both reeds are totally enclosed in the mouth, and circular breathing is employed to create a continuous flow of air. This can be quite difficult with larger instruments and requires an excellent set of lungs. Country: Egypt Region: Middle and Near East Type: wind
©  R. Raine-Reusch, May 2002