Qraqeb or garagab (Arabic: قراقب), in English often transliterated as krakeb, are a large iron castanet-like musical instrument primarily used as the rhythmic aspect of Gnawa music.[1] Gnawa today is part of the North African culture and is inherent in the Maghrebi soundscape. The word qraqeb is a plural form (with the singular being qarqab), with an unclear etymology, as the word does not occur in Standard Arabic with this meaning.
Gnawa music is a spiritual music representing the history of sub-Saharan West African people who were sold as slaves[2] in present-day Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia or Greater Maghreb. "...stories are told to those who are connected with their history by the very sound of the krakebs – they represent the sound of horses hooves hitting the ground as their people were carried away in grain sacks, and the rattling of shackles that used to hold their people captive.".[1] They are also said to represent shackles which slaves removed when they became free men. Several specific rhythms played by Gnawa musicians on Qarqabat (often accompanied by hajhuj or sintir) symbolise this freedom.
Bodyedit
Krakeb are similar to large iron castanets in that they are handheld cymbal-type instruments which are handmade from iron or steel.[3] They are idiophones, meaning that their sound comes from the vibration of the instrument's body. The body is four cymbals (two on each side) attached by a string. Since they are played with one hand, the musician usually holds one in each to play simultaneously.
Playingedit
In the Gnawa style, krakeb stay closed between hits so that the instrument clanging shut is the most prominent sound. In Tunisia, they are hit and pulled back apart quickly so that the ringing of the instrument is the most prominent sound. Generally, there is one sintir (guimbri) and up to 20 krakeb players per Gnawa ensemble. Curtis Blues shows examples of these playings, as well as other cultural significances of this instrument in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-9nzR79pc
Referencesedit
^ ab. www.rhythmsoftheearth.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
^Hamel, Chouki El (2008-07-01). "Constructing a Diasporic Identity: Tracing the Origins of the Gnawa Spiritual Group in Morocco". The Journal of African History. 49 (2): 241–260. doi:10.1017/S002185370800368X. ISSN 1469-5138. S2CID 162902867.
^"Moroccan Qraqeb, Musical Instruments from Morocco at Moroccan Caravan". www.moroccancaravan.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
External linksedit
Video with musicians playing krakeb castanets.
January 01, 1970
krakeb, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 2015, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Krakeb news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Qraqeb or garagab Arabic قراقب in English often transliterated as krakeb are a large iron castanet like musical instrument primarily used as the rhythmic aspect of Gnawa music 1 Gnawa today is part of the North African culture and is inherent in the Maghrebi soundscape The word qraqeb is a plural form with the singular being qarqab with an unclear etymology as the word does not occur in Standard Arabic with this meaning QraqebSet of qraqebOther namesQraqeb qaragib garagab nwaqessClassificationIdiophoneRelated instrumentsqairaq Contents 1 Cultural significance 2 Body 3 Playing 4 References 5 External linksCultural significance editGnawa music is a spiritual music representing the history of sub Saharan West African people who were sold as slaves 2 in present day Algeria Morocco Libya and Tunisia or Greater Maghreb stories are told to those who are connected with their history by the very sound of the krakebs they represent the sound of horses hooves hitting the ground as their people were carried away in grain sacks and the rattling of shackles that used to hold their people captive 1 They are also said to represent shackles which slaves removed when they became free men Several specific rhythms played by Gnawa musicians on Qarqabat often accompanied by hajhuj or sintir symbolise this freedom Body editKrakeb are similar to large iron castanets in that they are handheld cymbal type instruments which are handmade from iron or steel 3 They are idiophones meaning that their sound comes from the vibration of the instrument s body The body is four cymbals two on each side attached by a string Since they are played with one hand the musician usually holds one in each to play simultaneously Playing editIn the Gnawa style krakeb stay closed between hits so that the instrument clanging shut is the most prominent sound In Tunisia they are hit and pulled back apart quickly so that the ringing of the instrument is the most prominent sound Generally there is one sintir guimbri and up to 20 krakeb players per Gnawa ensemble Curtis Blues shows examples of these playings as well as other cultural significances of this instrument in the following video https www youtube com watch v eO 9nzR79pcReferences edit a b Morrocan Krakebs Drum sequencer featuring percussion instruments from around the world www rhythmsoftheearth com Archived from the original on 2015 09 27 Retrieved 2015 09 26 Hamel Chouki El 2008 07 01 Constructing a Diasporic Identity Tracing the Origins of the Gnawa Spiritual Group in Morocco The Journal of African History 49 2 241 260 doi 10 1017 S002185370800368X ISSN 1469 5138 S2CID 162902867 Moroccan Qraqeb Musical Instruments from Morocco at Moroccan Caravan www moroccancaravan com Retrieved 2015 09 26 External links editVideo with musicians playing krakeb castanets Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Krakeb amp oldid 1224063764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
