Reeded pipes





There are two types of reed, single and double. The zurna or shawm class of instrument uses a double reed in a conical bore pipe, producing a loud, wild sound similar to the Scottish Highland pipes. The arghul class uses a single reed and produces a quieter, more mellow sound. Single reeded pipes are often played in unison pairs with parallel finger holes, for example the Egyptian mijwiz or zummara. The arghul is played in Egypt and the Levant, with either a short or long drone. The Turkish sipsi is a single reeded pipe played without a drone.
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Technically the duduk is a reeded pipe, but because of its increasing popularity and profile it merits a page of its own on this site here.
Turkish zurna
Egyptian mijwiz
Turkish sipsi
Egyptian arghul

All performances and arrangements by Dirk Campbell
Iranian sorna
Indian shenai

mijwiz player

sipsi player


Bismillah Khan plays shenai
sorna player

The Turkish military band (Mehter) with its massed zurnas and drums, struck terror into the heart of Europe during the Ottoman Empire