The arghul (), also spelled argul, arghoul, arghool, argol, or yarghul, is a musical instrument in the reed instrument. It has been used since times and is still used as a traditional instrument in Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Jordan.
The arghul is a double-pipe, Single-reed Wind instrument instrument that consists of two tubes: a melody pipe with between five and seven holes and a longer drone (Arabic ardiyya, "ground") pipe. Its tone is similar to that of a clarinet, although a bit more reed-like. Unlike the similar mijwiz, the arghul has fingering holes on only one of the instrument's pipes (the melody pipe), and the drone pipe has a detachable length that allows the player to alter the pitch of the drone.
In the illustration above all three lengths are shown in use. An arghul belonging to the collection of the Conservatoire Royal at Brussels, described by Victor Mahillon in his catalogue cites: Catalogue descriptif et analytique du musée du Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles (Ghent, 1880), p. 141. (No. 113), gives the following scale: —
Holes uncovered. | { style="width:400px; text-align:center" | ||
Without additional joint. | With shortest additional joint. | With shortest and medium additional joints. | With longest additional joint. |
Arghuls are used in Egypt, Palestine and other Arab nations as an accompaniment to Belly dance, Dabke, and other types of Arabic musical performances. Circular breathing is an important part of the playing of the instrument.
There are three varieties of arghuls: the small arghul ( arghoul alasghar), the medium arghul ( arghoul alsoghayr), and the large arghul ( arghoul alkebir).
There are two çifte types known as Demli Çifte and Demsiz Çifte. In demli çifte one of the reeds does not have any pitch keys and it just produces a drone. There are melody keys on the other reed and the main melody is played through them.
Çifte is also known as Argun, Argul, Kargın or Zambır at different regions.
In Turkish, the word "çifte" also refers to a double-barreled shotgun, no doubt because of the barrels' resemblance to the wind instrument.
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