The ''mazhar'' ( ar, مزهر; plural ''mazāhar'', مزاهر) is a large, heavy

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...

used in

Arabic music Arabic music or Arab music ( ar, الموسيقى العربية, al-mūsīqā al-ʿArabīyyah) is the music of the Arab world with all its diverse music styles and genres. Arabic countries have many rich and varied styles of music and also man ...

. The mazhar's frame is generally made out of wood. Its single head is considerably thicker than that of the '' riq'', its smaller cousin. Some drums have

brass Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other wit ...

zills that are about 10–13 centimetres (4–5 inches) in diameter; these may be played with a shaking technique. The Egyptian percussionist

Hossam Ramzy Hossam Ramzy ( ar, حسام رمزي; 15 December 1953 – 10 September 2019) was an Egyptian percussionist and composer. He worked with English artists like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Siouxsie Sioux, as well as with Arabic music artists like R ...

is a notable performer of the mazhar.

External links

''Mazhar'' page
from N. Scott Robinson site
''Mazhar'' page
from OnestopIsraelShop Asian percussion instruments Hand drums Arabic musical instruments {{Rattle-stub

See also

External links