 | |
| Woodwind | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Alghoze, Jōrhi, Pāwā Jōrhī, Do Nālī, Donāl, Girāw, Satārā or Nagōze[1] |
| Classification | Woodwind instrument |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 421.112 |
| Developed | around 7500 BC inMesopotamia[2] |
Alghoza also calledBeenon (Sindhi:الغوزو) is a pairedwoodwind traditional musical instrument ofSindhi culture,[3][4] also used byKutchi,Saraiki,Punjabi,Rajasthani andbaloch folk musicians.[2][1] It consists of two joinedbeak flutes, one for melody, the second for drone. The flutes are either tied together or may be held together loosely with the hands. A continuous flow of air is necessary as the player blows into the two flutes simultaneously.[5] The quick recapturing of breath on each beat creates a bouncing, swinging rhythm. The wooden instrument initially comprised two flute pipes of the same length but over time, one of them was shortened for sound purposes. In the world of Alghoza playing, the two flute pipes are a couple — the longer one is the male and the shorter one the female instrument. With the use of beeswax, the instrument can be scaled to any tune.[6]
It originated at around 7500 BC inMesopotamia, it then reachedIran and eventually theIndian subcontinent with some modifications.[2] Some Mesopotamian archaic paintings contain a musical instrument very similar to Alghoza.[2]
In Mesopotamia, this instrument was called "Al-Joza", which literally means, "The twin".[2] As it reached theIndian subcontinent, the "J" in "Al-Joza" became "gh" and eventually the modified form of this instrument which reached the subcontinent came to be known as Alghoza.[2]
