Rhaita

Rhaita
	rhaita or ghaita (Arabic: غيطة‎)
Other names	Ghaita
Classification	Double reed
Related instruments
	Dulzaina; Sorna; Rhaita; Suona; Sopila; Zurna;

The rhaita or ghaita (Arabic: غيطة) is a double reed instrument from West North Africa, specifically Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. It is nearly identical in construction to the Arabic mizmar and the Turkish zurna. The distinctive name owes to a medieval Gothic-Iberian influence.^[1]^[2] In southern Iberia, various sorts of wind instruments, including the related shawm, are known as gaitas, but in northern Iberia gaita refers only to bagpipes.

The rhaita was featured in The Lord of the Rings soundtracks by Howard Shore, specifically in the Mordor theme. American composer John 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 to Altered States Corigliano again called for oboists to mimic the rhaita sound during Three Hallucinations.

The rhaita was famously used by Howard Shore for the Lord of the Rings' score

References

^ Dictionnaire des musiques et danses traditionnelles de la Mediterranée, Paris, Fayard, 2005 (articles on gaita and ghayta).
^ Pierre Bec, Les instruments de musique d'origine arabe, sens et histoire de leurs désignations, Toulouse, Isatis, Conservatoire Occitan, 2005

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[1] Dictionnaire des musiques et danses traditionnelles de la Mediterranée, Paris, Fayard, 2005 (articles on gaita and ghayta).

[2] Pierre Bec, Les instruments de musique d'origine arabe, sens et histoire de leurs désignations, Toulouse, Isatis, Conservatoire Occitan, 2005

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[2]

v t e Traditional Arabic musical instruments
Plucked lutes	Buzuq Kwitra Lavta Mandole Oud Qanbūs Sintir
Zithers	Qanun
Bowed lutes	Kamanjah Rababa
Lyres	Kissar Simsimiyya Tanbūra
Flutes	Kawala Ney
Reed instruments	Arghul Habbān Jirba Mijwiz Mizmar Mizwad Rhaita Salamiyyah (flute) Zukra
Drums	Al-ras Bendir Daf Duhulla Goblet drum Hajir Maktoum Mazhar Mirwas Naqara Naqareh Riq Tar Taarija Tabl baladi Tbilat
Other percussion	Clapping (kaff) Krakebs Manjur Mihbaj Sagat (zills) Sistrum

v t e Double reed instruments
(also includes those with quadruple and sextuple reeds; does not include bagpipes)
European classical (modern)	Piccolo oboe Piccolo heckelphone Oboe Oboe d'amore Cor anglais (English horn) Bass oboe Heckelphone Lupophon Contrabass oboe Tenoroon Bassoon Semi-contrabassoon Contrabassoon Contraforte Contrabassophone Reed contrabass Sarrusophone Rothphone Tromboon
European classical (historical)	Aulos Baroque oboe Bassanello Cornamuse Cromorne Crumhorn Dulcian Hirtenschalmei Kortholt Oboe da caccia Pommer Rackett Rauschpfeife Shawm
African traditional	Algaita Rhaita Zukra
Asian traditional	Balaban Duduk Guan Gyaling Hichiriki Hne Kèn Kèn bầu Kèn đám ma Kuzhal Mizmar Nadaswaram Ottu Pi Piri Shehnai Sundari Sorna Sralai Suona Taepyeongso Tangmuri Zurna/Surnai
European traditional	Aulos Bifora Birbynė Bombard Catalan shawm Dulzaina Graïle Gralla Musette Piffero Sopila Tárogató Zurna Surma-horn
American traditional	Chirimía Trompeta china

See also

References