We are excited to host an event to mark the release of Street Palestinian Wedding and Bedouin Music Culture, a new vinyl and A6 booklet documentation from Majazz Project / Palestinian Sound Archive! Featuring text and images from and about the immersive recording of the release - which took place in a series of events commemorating Palestinian Bedouin weddings across the north of Palestine and the Galilee in the 1970s and 80s - the night is a celebration of Palestinian Bedouin popular music.

The release features performance Atef Swaitat (yarghul) and Abu Ali (lead vocals), two popular Bedouin wedding musicians continuing a long family tradition in Jenin and the north of historic Palestine.”Galilee”. The issue also focuses on the Yarghul and its role within the trance inducing music in Palestinian popular culture.

The Yarghul (also spelled arghul or yarghoul) is a traditional double-pipe reed instrument deeply embedded in the musical heritage of Palestine and neighboring regions. Its haunting, continuous drone and melodic capabilities make it a staple in various cultural expressions, notably in Bedouin weddings and trance-inducing musical performances.

Melody pipe: Equipped with finger holes, allowing the musician to play melodies.
Drone pipe: Longer and without finger holes, it produces a continuous drone note.

In Palestinian culture, the yarghul plays a significant role in traditional wedding ceremonies. It often accompanies the dabke, a communal line dance performed during celebrations. The instrument's continuous drone and melodic lines provide the rhythmic and melodic foundation for the dancers.

Tha A6 booklet presents photos of Palestinian Bedouin wedding celebrations from the Palestinian sound archive / Majazz Project.

Original picture from Palestinian sound archive collection. Design out of MBEZ005 Trance Mediterranea: Palestinian Bedouin Weddings - Ecstatic Yarghul. Designed by Augusto Fabio Cerqua Curated by Giovanni Napolano. Published in collaboration with MBE series and Palestinian sound archive.