‘A history of Arabian music to the XIIIth century’ by Farmer, Henry George, 1882-1965

definitions: “The shahin would appear to have been a small three-holed recorder”
such as was common with pipe and tabor players in Mediaeval Western Europe

Tabbal means drummer.

Shahin-Tabbal is a person who plays Shahin by one hand and Tabl (drum) by the other one.

Tabire means drum

1898 Translation from original texts of 1839 and 1868:
“…you have put yourself outside the pale of equity, so that even to this time the sound of  pipe and tabor
 may be plainly heard issuing from your house…”

1617 travel diary, Socatra
“Our travells from the dezert Lands to Socatra:
Aprill 8.…When wee came neere his howse wee weare entertayned with tabour and pipe and other heathen musicke…”

Socatra is an island off Yemen in the Indian Ocean, off the Arabia Peninsula

‘Journal Of John Jourdain 1608-1617 DESCRIBING HIS EXPERIENCES IN ARABIA, INDIA, AND THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO’
by Foster, William

1762 training camels in Arabia: ‘The Natural History of the Camel’
[not for the sqeamish]

“...No less singular is the method by which they likewise breed them up for diversion, and teach them
to dance to the sound of the tabor and pipe, by bringing them, whilst young colts, into a kind of stove,
made hot for the purpose; where the floor burning their feet, they skip and dance about, now on one foot,
now on another, then on their knees; all this while the tabor or pipe playing some tune: by which means
they are gradually inured, when they hear the same instrument play, to dance, on the cold ground, to the tune
it plays…”

The British Magazine; or monthly depository for gentlemen and ladies: volume III page 235

1828 Metubis in the Nile Delta region of Egypt: diary entry describing local dancers:
“…They had brought with them two instruments, a pipe and tabour, and a kind of drum, made from
an earthen pot, on which the musician beat with his hands…”

'The life of Napoleon Bonaparte : in four volumes. 1’ by Ireland, William H ‘

 1846 memoir:

“Jaffa still boasts of a manufacture of glass.  …A mile or two farther we discovered a number of peasants
reaping barley to the tune of a pipe and tabor “

‘Travels of Lady Hester Stanhope’, Volume 1 (of 3)

Ascalon, chapter VII “On the 3rd day, the excavations were continued along the south wall….weather was
so tempestuous as much to impede the labourers. A pipe and tabor were therefore brought, to the tune
of which they worked, sung and danced”

‘Travels of Lady Hester Stanhope’, Volume 3 (of 3) FORMING THE COMPLETION OF HER MEMOIRS. NARRATED BY HER PHYSICIAN

1709 Pegu “…They have various sorts of musick, but the pipe and tabor are esteemed the best tho their stringed
instruments pleased my ears best….”

‘Account of the Pegu Clergy’, SBBR 4.2 (Autumn 2006), page106

“…Each company, after contributing its share towards the general entertainment, marched past the Maywoon,
to the sound of musical instruments; after which they proceeded to our shed with songs and dances, “the pipe
and the tabor,” manifesting every lively demonstration of joy….”

SBBR VOL. 4, Issue 1 ()Spring 2006 Page 111

1819 encyclopaedia entry:

“…TCHERGONA, valley of, a sequestered beautiful valley of the Crimea, inhabited by the richest Tartars,…
This valley is described as the retreat of health and joy ; the pipe and tabor sounding merrily among mountains,
thick set with groves, which close them on every side. The performers consist of parties of Tzigankies,
or gipsies, who, as mendicant artificers, musicians, and astrologers, are very common all over the south of Russia…”

‘The Cyclopædia; or, Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature’ by  Rees, Abraham

1926 'Turkish Musician'
book illustration

1869 newspaper article concerning developing South Africa:Cape and Natal News - Tuesday 23 February 1869

2024 Vsevolod Sadovyj 
playing in Eire