Algoze

Alghoza, also algoza, algoja is a longitudinally blown bamboo flute in popular North Indian music, which consists of two tubes, one of which produces the melody and the other a drone. The alghoza is also called a jori ( pair) or ngoza.

Origin and Distribution

The woodwind instrument is known in the Indian and Pakistani Punjab and Sindh in where it is often played by farmers during the harvest season. The alghoza can be heard on the fields from a distance. According to tradition, the flute developed from a children's instrument called bainsiri (see bansuri ). A similar instrument in Balochistan ie doneli.

Design and style of play

The two wooden flutes include a circumference of five notes are usually the same length. However, there are some instruments that consist of two different length tubes. The double flute is provided with incised characters and embellishments and can be decorated with colorful ribbons.

The alghoza is played by a person with three fingers on each side. The sound is created by the rapid blowing into the air in the flute. By the mouthpiece of the breath passes through a narrow slit, also called core column, on the cutting edge and breaks will immediately (see also beak flute). The rapid recapture of the air on each beat creates a bouncing and swinging rhythm.

In general, the alghoza is used as a traditional folk instrument and is used as an accompaniment of folk dances and sung by legends like Mirza, Chhalla and Jugni.

A special type of an Indian double flute is predominantly in Maharashtra vertically played flute surpava.