 rhaita or ghaita (Arabic: غيطة) | |
| Other names | Ghaita |
|---|---|
| Classification | Double reed |
| Related instruments | |
Therhaita orghaita (Arabic:غيطة,romanized: ghayṭa) is adouble reed instrument from WestNorth Africa, specifically Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. It is nearly identical in construction to the Arabicmizmar and the Turkishzurna. The distinctive name owes to a medieval Gothic-Iberian influence.[1][2] In southernIberia, various sorts of wind instruments, including the relatedshawm, are known asgaitas, but in northern Iberiagaita refers only to bagpipes.
The rhaita was featured inThe Lord of the Ringssoundtracks byHoward Shore, specifically in theMordor theme. American composerJohn Corigliano calls one of the movements of his 1975 Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra "Rhaita Dance", asking the oboist to imitate a rhaita by pushing the reed further into his or her mouth. In 1981 while composing the soundtrack toAltered States Corigliano again called for oboists to mimic the rhaita sound during Three Hallucinations.
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