Simsimiyya

{{short description|Traditional Egyptian string instrument}}

{{Infobox Instrument

|name= Simsimiyya

|names=

|image=Joueur de Simsimiyya (Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris) (8237760204).jpg

|caption=A simsimiyya being played by an Egyptian band.

|classification=Stringed instruments

}}

{{Infobox intangible heritage

| Image =

| Caption =

| ICH = Semsemiah: instrument crafting and playing

| Countries = Egypt

| ID = 02119

| Region = Ancient Egypt

| Year = 2024

| Session = 19th

| List = Representative

}}

The simsimiyya (Arabic: سمسمية, and سنسمية simsimyya/sinsimiyya; pl. simsimiyyāt/sinsimiyyāt) is a box or bowl lyre used in Egypt. Models exist with both circular soundboxes as well as rectangular.

In the past, Egyptian models had 5 strings. The strings are held in place by pegs instead of tuning rings.{{cite book |last=Poché |first=Christian |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments |date=1984 |publisher=MacMillan Press |isbn=0-943818-05-2 |editor=Sadie Stanley |volume=3 |place=New York |page=388 |article=Simsimīyya |author-link=Christian Poché}} Today, images of the instrument in Egypt may show 12 strings. It has been played since ancient times.

It is used in Egypt in certain genres of Egyptian music, including Sawahli (coastal) music, which is a type of popular Egyptian music from the country's northern coast. The simsimiyya was probably introduced to the country's northern coast from the Nile valley in the 19th century by Egyptian workers in the Suez canal. It is also used in other genres of Egyptian music. Well-known Egyptian bands that feature the simsimiyya as a main instrument include El Tanbura, which uses other Egyptian instruments.

The simsimiyya is often used to accompany Egyptian musicians known as suhbagiyya, in the cities of Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez. [http://www.umbc.edu/MA/index/number7/stokes/simsi.htm]

It is sometimes used in other countries neighboring Egypt as well, including Libya, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

File:Joueur de Simsimiyya (Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris) (8237758136).jpg|A simsimiyya being played by Hassan aka Mohsen El 'Ashry of El Tanbura. [http://nileproject.org/hassan-el-ashry/]

File:Egypt lyre 001.jpg|Ancient Egyptian lyre.