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Updated
January, 2013
NORTH AMERICAN JEW'S Photos from the festival are now up at: If you have any photos you'd like to contribute, A big thank you to all who attended this year's festival and made it on of the best yet! We had a diverse array of performers, vendors, and workshops this year with lots of newcomers and great energy.
The Bay City Arts Center
Google DIRECTIONS TO
Lodging and Food
Information:
History of the Festival - The BeginningWe have come a long way since 1991 when the festival was "born"
and each year the festival continues to grow and attract more
musicians and spectators.
It all began with a meeting which took place in the fall of 1991.
Gordon Frazier (of Seattle) who had recently returned from
attending the Second International Trump (Jew's Harp) Congress
that July in Yakutsk, Siberia, traveled down to Bill and Janet
Gohring's place in eastern Oregon. Gordon's dad, Marvin (who
plays bones), and Bart Wood (a friend of the Gohring's) were also
there.
It was the first time the Gohring's had met Gordon, but they
were long time friends with his Dad, Marvin. Gordon had an
impressive Jew's Harp collection and he brought it along with
him. Well, the music started shortly after Gordon arrived and
didn't stop until the next day.
Early in that first evening, the idea came up about having a
Jew's Harp festival here in the northwest. After all, Russia,
Japan, Scotland, Philippines, etc., all have one. So, we
discussed the type of festival we wanted it to be (Free and Fun)
... with the Jew's Harp as the main theme.
Well, it is much more than we ever anticipated it would be.
The atmosphere brings family unity closer together; it's the
perfect chance to meet many new interesting people (Jew's Harpers
are a bit "twangy"); the opportunity to listen and play a wide
variety of music from around the world; become introduced to a
variety of musical instruments (some one cannot even imagine!);
and often people from foreign countries will attend and play their
own music.
The festival was part of the inspiration behind Wayland
Harman's creation of the Clackamore . It also inspired Bill
Gohring to create his own Jew's Harp design and start hand-making
them. So, the festival is effecting many of us in a wonderful,
creative way.
The atmosphere during the festival is open, friendly, a
willingness to share and learn, and great people who love to hear
those Jew's Harpers play.
All in all, it's the place to be if you want to have a great
time, enjoy good music and learn to play the Jew's Harp (most
people learn in no time at all).
Many of us enjoy the wide variety of Workshops held during
the festival. You can learn everything about the ancient,
mystical little music instrument from present day back to
Neanderthal times.
But beware! Jew's Harps are addictive! Once you start
playing, you won't be able to stop.
We have since moved to the Bay City Arts Center in Bay City Oregon
where the festival continued until August 2011 in the same spirit with
which it began.
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