Morocco.
Rabat.

Gimbri, guimbri or sintir

The gimbri or sintir is a three stringed rectangular lute from Morocco commonly used by Gnawan musicians. The body of the gimbri is a rectangular trough covered by camel skin from which protrudes a round wooden neck with three goat-gut strings attached by cloth thongs. At the end of the neck a metal rattle is inserted to give the instrument added color. The gimbri is both a percussive and melodic instrument producing a percussive bass-like tone, and is the largest in a family of similar instruments found in Northern Africa. The knuckles of the right hand hit the skin on the body, while striking the bottom string with the index finger, or plucking the top and middle strings with the thumb. Done properly, this technique will simultaneously produce the tone of the string, a drum sound on the skin, and rattle the jingles on the end of the neck. Advanced players produce complex combinations of rhythms and melodies by varying these three elements.

Tags:   video Canon PowershotSX30 geotagged travel Africa Morocco Maroc al-Maġrib المغرب العربي guimbri gimbri sintir Gnawa Rabat Linda De Volder 2011

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Morocco. Meknes.

The covered market behind Place el-Hedim.

Lonely Planet review for Covered Market .
This is the place in Meknès to get fresh produce, and is virtually a tourist attraction in itself, with its beautifully arranged pyramids of sugary sweet delicacies, dates and nuts, olives and preserved lemons in glistening piles. There’s also good-quality fruit and veg here, as well as meat – the faint-hearted may choose to avoid the automated chicken-plucking machines at the rear of the hall.

Tags:   video Canon PowershotSX30 geotagged travel Africa Morocco Maroc al-Maġrib المغرب العربي Meknes مكناس Bab Mansour باب منصور العلج Place el-Hedim Place Lahdim el-Hedim square Lahdim square food Linda De Volder 2011

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Morocco. Meknes.

Frommer'sReview of Place el Hedim
The heart of Meknes's medina, place el Hedim was originally the western corner of the medina until Moulay Ismail demolished the houses to enable a royal approach to his palace. Besides public executions -- of which Moulay Ismail was particularly fond -- and royal announcements, the square was also used as a storage area for the masses of construction material he had pillaged from around Morocco to build his capital. Meknes authorities have recently cleaned up the square, and during the day it is the medina's premier spot to while away some quality people-watching time. Come here in the early evening, especially in the warmer months, to witness musicians, storytellers, and African herboristes taking center stage in a smaller version of Marrakech's Jemaa el Fna spectacle.


Read more: www.frommers.com/destinations/meknes/A39782.html#ixzz1ehx...

Rhaita
The rhaita is an double-reeded, oboe like instrument from North Africa. (Howard Shore refers to it as a Berber instrument and Doug Adams makes one reference to a Moroccan rhaita.) There are many similar types of these double-reed instruments which can be called raita, rhita, ghaita, and ghaita. The sound is loud and spectacular.
Bendir.
The bendir is a frame drum used as a traditional instrument throughout North Africa. Unlike the tambourine, it has no jingles but most often has a snare (usually made of gut) stretched across its head, which when the drum is struck with the fingers or palm gives the tone a buzzing quality. The bendir is a frame drum with a wooden frame and a membrane.

Tags:   video Canon PowershotSX30 geotagged travel Africa Morocco Maroc al-Maġrib المغرب العربي Meknes مكناس Bab Mansour باب منصور العلج Place el-Hedim Place Lahdim el-Hedim square Lahdim square musician rhaita ghaita bendir Linda De Volder 2011

© All Rights Reserved

Morocco. Meknes.

Frommer'sReview of Place el Hedim
The heart of Meknes's medina, place el Hedim was originally the western corner of the medina until Moulay Ismail demolished the houses to enable a royal approach to his palace. Besides public executions -- of which Moulay Ismail was particularly fond -- and royal announcements, the square was also used as a storage area for the masses of construction material he had pillaged from around Morocco to build his capital. Meknes authorities have recently cleaned up the square, and during the day it is the medina's premier spot to while away some quality people-watching time. Come here in the early evening, especially in the warmer months, to witness musicians, storytellers, and African herboristes taking center stage in a smaller version of Marrakech's Jemaa el Fna spectacle.


Read more: www.frommers.com/destinations/meknes/A39782.html#ixzz1ehx...

Tags:   video Canon PowershotSX30 geotagged travel Africa Morocco Maroc al-Maġrib المغرب العربي Meknes مكناس Bab Mansour باب منصور العلج Place el-Hedim Place Lahdim el-Hedim square Lahdim square musician Aïssawa Linda De Volder 2011

© All Rights Reserved

Morocco. Meknes.

Frommer'sReview of Place el Hedim
The heart of Meknes's medina, place el Hedim was originally the western corner of the medina until Moulay Ismail demolished the houses to enable a royal approach to his palace. Besides public executions -- of which Moulay Ismail was particularly fond -- and royal announcements, the square was also used as a storage area for the masses of construction material he had pillaged from around Morocco to build his capital. Meknes authorities have recently cleaned up the square, and during the day it is the medina's premier spot to while away some quality people-watching time. Come here in the early evening, especially in the warmer months, to witness musicians, storytellers, and African herboristes taking center stage in a smaller version of Marrakech's Jemaa el Fna spectacle.


Read more: www.frommers.com/destinations/meknes/A39782.html#ixzz1ehx...

Tags:   video Canon PowershotSX30 geotagged travel Africa Morocco Maroc al-Maġrib المغرب العربي Meknes مكناس Bab Mansour باب منصور العلج Place el-Hedim Place Lahdim el-Hedim square Lahdim square musician Linda De Volder 2011

© All Rights Reserved