Rym discovering
new musical sounds
PLAYING THE IMZAD
T
HE woman plays the imzad while seated, with the instrument resting on her knees, her left hand holding the “tabourit” and pressing the “aziou”. The right hand holds the “tadjaihé” perpendicular to the string.
The flexible action of the hand, together with variable light pressure on the string, are the fundamental elements in producing the sound and thus the music.
No other instrument accompanies the Imzad
It can be accompanied by hand-clapping
It can be accompanied by a solo voice
Exceptionally, it can be accompanied by two voices
In such duets, the singing is sometimes mixed (man and woman), sometimes men only
There is a close link with the warrior traditions of the old days
The music also accompanies the women when they move their flocks to new pastures [transhumance]