What is "mizmar"

n. (context musici English) A traditional Arabic wind instrument with a double or single reed.

In Arabic music, a mizmār (; plural مَزَامِير mazāmīr) is any single or double reed wind instrument. In Egypt, the term mizmar usually refers to the conical shawm that is called zurna in Turkey.

Mizmar is also a term used for a group of musicians, usually a duo or trio, that play a mizmar instrument along with an accompaniment of one or two double-sided bass drums, known in Arabic as tabl baladi or simply tabl. Mizmars are usually played in Egypt at either weddings or as an accompaniment to belly dancers. In Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Syria, it is influenced by the Turkish zurna, a higher-pitched version of the mizmar, and may also be known in those countries as a zamr (زمر) or zamour, as well as mizmar. In Morocco a similar instrument is called ghaita or rhaita (غيطة). Along with belly dancing, the mizmar may accompany the dabke, a folkloric line dance done in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Iraq.

Mizmar can refer to

• Mizmar (instrument)
• Mizmar (dance)

Mizmar is the name of a folkloric dance to the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. The dance involves moving while twirling a bamboo cane, to the music of drums. The dance and music have strong African influences. In the past, the ritual was associated with spiritual healing practices, similar to Fann At-Tanbura.