Mizwad

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The Mezwed, French spelling Mezoued, Arabic مزود, DMG mizwad, also Zukra; is a traditional bagpipe from Tunisia, which also occurs in southeastern Algeria and Libya. The instrument comes from the Bedouin and spread first in the storage areas of the cattle nomads, then in the cities.

The name Mezwed / mizwad literally means " knapsack " and refers to the airbag. Without bag the same instrument Magruna is called (also Magrouna "doubled " by Arab مقرونة, DMG maqrūna ). Similar single-reed instruments with dual acoustic tube come in many Arab countries (cf. Midschwiz ).

In addition Mezwed is a form of traditional Tunisian music, whose style is similar to the Egyptian Baladi dance style.

Method of construction

The Magruna is formed by two identical melody pipes from pipe ( Kaffa ), which each have a simple ( ideoglottes ) reed and five or six finger holes. The pipes are embellished with fire lines and carry two cow or gazelle horns as a bell.

This double chanter is attached to an air sac that is 64 cm long, and chekoua or called dhorf. It is made from goat or sheep skin and traps air that is blown through a narrow crook. At the point of the paws jewelry ends of wood are placed.

Play

The inflated air bag allowing continuous, penetrating sound. The player presses the hose under your armpit and presses it together with the arm to put the reeds to vibrate. If the Magruna is blown directly with the mouth, circular breathing must be used. The player can change the pitch and tone by varying air pressure.

Most of the Mezwed is accompanied by Bendix, the Tabl or Darbouka.

Popular music

The Mezwed was ignored by the holders of official culture long, the opposite of popular music gave the forms of classical Arab music preference.

The Mezwed is often accompanied by a singer who sings in the Tunisian dialect and not standard Arabic as in classical music. Often a men's or women's choir shall be additional.

It spread into the urban culture in disadvantaged and uprooted by the rural exodus neighborhoods. It can be regarded as an expression of the poor living conditions and as a rejection of the dominant culture. He violates the standards of decency, used slang and treated provocative or suggestive themes. The harshest critics make the Mezwed in a series with the zendali, the singing of the inmates in the prison.

Although the Mezwed in the media ( TV and radio) is virtually nonexistent, it has spread through music cassettes, which made ​​him known to a large audience. He also played at festivals and represents the culture of the general population towards an elitist cultural understanding.

At the beginning of the 1990s evaluated the musical Ennouba, directed by Fadhel Jaziri and Samir Aghrebi, the Mezwed on and gave him a place in the musical heritage of Tunisia. At the same time he was also taken up more and more in the repertoire of the great singers like Hedi Jouini. Finally, he found, as specifically Tunisian form of music, a place in the urban environment.

Musician

A selection of artists who maintain the Mezwed:

• Belgacem Bouguenna
• Fatma Boussaha
• Hedi Habbouba
• Ouled Jouini
• Fathi Weld Fajra