Egyptian Stringed Instruments
Egypt has a long history of music dating back to ancient times. Stringed instruments were common and were often depicted in paintings and carvings. Many string instruments that were widely played in ancient Egypt were early ancestors of modern day harps, lutes and guitars.
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Simsimiyya
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The Simsimiyya is an Egyptian version of the harp-like lyre. Like a harp, it is an instrument that is plucked. It first came to Egypt in the fourth quarter of the nineteenth century, and became popular amongst the diverse mix of laborers who worked around the Suez Canal. At the height of its popularity, the Simsimiyya was played at informal cafe concerts and was carried on ships for good luck.
Oud
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The oud was a Persian import to ancient Egypt. The instrument's Arabic name, al oud, translates to "thin wood" in English. The modern day oud has strings made out of plastic, but they were originally made from gut. The instrument was played at the time of the Pharaohs and is often depicted in ancient Egyptian paintings.
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Arched Harp
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The arched harp dates back to ancient Egypt, but has remained popular in traditional circles. The instrument is shaped like a hunting bow, and was first depicted in paintings of the old kingdom. The arched harp usually has between six and 10 strings. The original version of the instrument only produced one pitch, though variations such as the shovel-shaped harp were later developed to improve this.
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References
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