Online edition of The Official Newsletter of the Jew's Harp Guild
- The Pluck-n-Post -
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Contents:A Word From the
Executive Director 10 Year Relfections Bulletin Board Pictorial Archive Online Newsletter Archive |
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A Word from the
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Dear Jew’s Harp friends,
I hope this finds all of you in good spirits. We all send our deepest sympathies to any of our friends who were directly affected by the events of September 11th. Guild members, Lena Strayhorn and Matt Glasson, who both live in New York City, emailed that they were safe and unhurt. Thanks for letting us know! Now, more than ever, the world needs the positive energy of the Jew’s Harp’s vibrations ... so everyone keep on twangin’ !!
 NAJHF LOGO - Art by Ron Vinson
Bill Gohring being filmed by Oregon Public Broadcasting |
NEW "FESTIVAL
EDITION" OF THE PLUCK ‘N’ POST In years past, the festival has been covered by Gordon Frazier’s PLUCK. Like all of us, Gordon’s life has taken new directions and he is no longer able to get PLUCK out on a regular basis. He will still continue to publish PLUCK as his time schedule allows, but the "special festival edition" will now be published as part of the PLUCK ‘N’ POST.2001 NAJHF The 10th Annual North American Jew’s Harp Festival was a great success this year. We had many return performers and several new performers. It’s always great to see everyone and have a weekend of fun and music. The weather was perfect and the park was full of attendees. We received an email from a "Richland Farmer" who said, "Thanks for continuing to bring your festival to our little town. You folks are the best of people. Many of us look forward to you coming every year. I was wondering, is it coincidence that your event is on the anniversary of another peaceful gathering of music lovers held in upstate New York in 69?" I would reply to him that the Richland folks, too, are the best of people. Thank you so much for your continued enthusiasm and support over the years! OPB Television filmed all Saturday’s events. They also spent the day before the festival with Bill Gohring, Jew’s Harp Maker. They were shooting footage for a special on Jew’s Harps that will be aired on their program "Art Beat" sometime in October. [See Bulletin Board] |
| Alice Zyetz Guitar, Voice Livingston, TX. Anna Fisk Bass, Guitar Council, ID. Bill Gohring Jew’s Harp Sumpter, OR. Blaise Grant Fiddle Pendleton, OR. Chris Towne Jew’s Harp Nevada City, CA. Chuck Morgan Fiddle, Guitar Benton City, WA. Chuck Zyetz Banjo, Voice Livingston, TX. Cindy Powell Guitar Pendleton, OR. Dale Fisk Guitar, Mandolin, Lap Steel, Fiddle Council, ID. Dan Gossi Jew’s Harp, Clackamore, Didj Boise, ID. Daniel Slosberg Fiddle Los Angeles, CA. David Gloor Squeezebox Council, ID. Del Blevins Electric Bass Council, ID. Denny Minshall Guitar Council, ID. Dick Kaiser Fiddle, Banjo, Wash Tub Bass, Voice Pendleton, OR. Ed Morgan Guitar Ontario, OR. Gordon Frazier Jew’s Harp, Clackamore Seattle, WA. Jack Roberts Guitar, Mandolin, Voice Carson, WA. Jacob Bullock Bongos, Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, Penny Whistle Spanaway, WA. Janet Gohring Piano, Autoharp, Jew’s Harp, Shakers, Voice Sumpter, OR. Jerry Copeland Mandolin, Guitar Pendleton, OR. John Palmes Mouth Bow, Kalimba, Nose Flute Juneau, Alaska John James Button Accordian Cheney, WA. Jonathan Faddis Jew’s Harp, Guitar, Dulcimer, Mouth Bow Kent, WA. Kathi Vinson Guitar, Tamborine, Voice Sumpter, OR. Kathyrn Wert Keyboard, Jew’s Harp, Guitar Cambridge, ID. Lauran Miller Kazoo, Washtub Bass Kansas City, Missouri Leonard Bairle Guitar Prosser, WA. Lois Johnson Piano Aloha, OR. Lori Brogoitti Guitar, Bass Pendleton, OR. Lorraine Bullock Hammered Dulcimer, Bongos, Percussion, Tin Flute Spanaway, WA. Lowell Epstein Jew’s Harp, Recorder St. Helens, OR. Mark Poss Jew’s Harp, Clackamore, Hand Drums Nampa, ID. Martin Holmes Fiddle Albion, ID. Michael Bruesch Guitar, Mandolin, Jew’s Harp, Guird, Conch Caldwell, ID. Peg Willis Fiddle, Guitar, Bodhran Pendleton, OR. Rick Meyers Banjo, Buitar, Mandolin, Autoharp, Musical Saw, Portland, OR. Roger Tendick Harmonica, Jew’s Harp Veneta, OR. Roger Mayhugh Gut Bucket, Bones, Jew’s Harp Redmond, OR. Ron Moss Harmonica, Jew’s Harp Boise, ID. Sharon Stippich Fiddle, Guitar Indian Valley, ID. Wayland Harman Jew’s Harp, Clackamore Boise, ID. Wendy Carson Guitar, Fiddle, Piano Council, ID. |
  
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Special thanks go to all of the volunteers who helped make the festival possible ... we couldn’t have done it without them.
| Chuck and Alice Zyetz
Livingston, TX. Dan and John Gossi Boise, ID. Dee Logerwell Richland, OR. Dick Howe Sumpter, OR. Fred Riggs Richland, OR. Jack Roberts Carson, WA. Jamie Chamberlin Richland, OR. Jana & Bud Terry Richland, OR. Janet and Bill Gohring Sumpter, OR. Jerry & Terry Arledge Boise, ID. Jerry Weir Richland, OR. John and Donna Weir Richland, OR. Jonathan Faddis Kent, WA. Louise & Dave Clark Richland, OR. |
Mark and VeronicaPoss Nampa,
ID. Martin Beam Richland, OR. Mike Stiles Caldwell, ID.Nancy Bulgne Richland, OR. Neil Neighman Santa Barbara, CA. Pat Matheson Richland, OR. Rick Meyers Portland, OR. Roger, Lorraine, Matthew and Amanda Tendick Veneta, OR. Ron & Kathi Vinson Sumpter, OR. Therrill Tilgner Richland, OR. Tori Taylor Baker City, OR. Walt & Norma Forsee Richland, OR. Wayland Harman Boise, ID. |
BAND SCRAMBLE:
*Band #1: Jew’s Harp Hillbillies -Wendy Carson, Dan Gossi, John James, Roger
Tendick, Jerry Copeland,
John Palmes, Martin Holmes, Jacob Bullock
*Band #2: Full House - Bill Gohring, Lorraine Bullock, Lori Brogoitti, Cindy
Powell, Chris Towne
*Band #3: Rub-A-Dub-Dub, 5 Men and a Tub - Michael Bruesch, Ed Morgan, Blaine Fisk,
Lauren Miller, Leonard Bairle
*Band #4: Pine Creek Stompers - Chuck Morgan, Dale Fisk, Sharon Stippick, Lowell
Epstein, Kathi Vinson
*Band #5: Strange Strings - Roger Mayhugh, Janet Gohring, Lois Johnson, Chuck
Zyetz, Kathryn Wert, Dick Kaiser
*Band #6: On The Spot - Jack Roberts, Wayland Harman, Gordon Frazier, Denny
Minshall, Del Belvins, Rick Meyers
| T SHIRT RAFFLE WINNERS: Rick Meyers, Linda Lehman, Mike Stiles, Michael Bruesch, Tori Taylor, Irene Murray VOLUNTEER RAFFLE WINNER: Gourd Bird House (grown and made by VeronicaPoss) Martin Beam from Richland, Oregon |
MISC RAFFLE WINNERS: Roger Tendick, Wayland Harman,Vic Bobb, Mel Drushella, Amelia Lazott, Jack Roberts, Lowell Epstein, Maria Byers, Linda Lehman, Cindy Powell, Dick Howe |
| MUSIC INSTRUMENT RAFFLE WINNERS: Gourd Shakarees: Gordon Frazier, Jack Roberts Egg Shakers: Amber Stiles, Lorraine Bullock Painted Kubings: Amber Stiles, Kathryn Wert, Neal Neighman Clackamores: Michael Bruesch, Lorraine Bullock Austrian Jew’s Harps: Gledhill, Michael Stokes, Sharon Speelman, Nod Palmer, Ron Vinson 3 sets Guitar Strings: Kathi Vinson Rhythm Instrument: Bill Gohring Kubings: Sharon Stippich, Dick Howe, Jeri Greave, Dick Peterson Gohring Jew’s Harp: Dick Peterson Hand Shaker Tamborine.: Wendy Carson |
WORKSHOPS: John Palmes & Wayland Harman Mouthbow & Nose Flutes EMCEES: Rick Meyers, Wayland Harman, Dick Kaizer, Chuck Zyetz, Jonathan Faddis, Bill Gohring, Janet Gohring |
COMMITTEE HEADS:
Executive Director - Janet Gohring
Sound System - Mark Poss, Dan Gossi, Wayland Harman
Posters/Flyers - Ron & Kathi Vinson, Janet Gohring
Food - Donna Weir and Richland Grange Ladies
Stage Decoration- Kathi Vinson, Wayland Harman, Mark & Veronica Poss
T Shirts - Ron Vinson, Janet Gohring, Wayland Harman
Info Booth - Kathi Vinson
Press Releases - Janet Gohring
Parking/Camping - Chuck Zyetz, Dick Howe, Neal Neighman
Grounds - Mike Stiles, Ron Vinson
Photography - Veronica Poss
Band Scramble - Bill Gohring
Kids’ Events - Tori Taylor
 Described as a Yakutian trump called Chimchoef . It is lovely with copper work of a Mammoth! (see Bulletin Board this issue) |
| From Peter S. Balkan Flagstaff, AZ USA |
(more Words from the Executive Director )
 10 Years of T shirt Designs |
I would like to share with each of you some of my thoughts about changing the future direction of the festival ... and I welcome any input or suggestions you might be able to offer. After 10 years, I am resigning as festival coordinator. It is a very stressful position that requires a tremendous amount of work. I am burnt out, as are several other "key people". So, I think 10 years is a good time to step back and re-evaluate the festival in hopes of finding a way to keep it alive yet not be such a burden for the organizers. |
In the beginning, Bill and Gordon started the festival FOR Jew’s Harp players. But at that time, we didn’t know enough Jew’s Harp players to fill the whole festival so we invited other musicians to participate. Later on we added a special emphasis to Unusual Instruments. But if you really take a look at the direction the festival has taken over the past 10 years, you will see that we are no longer a "Jew’s Harp Festival" ... we’re not even an "Unusual Instrument Festival" ... we have become more of a "Folk Music Festival".
So, I really think it is time to streamline the festival back to its original intent. I would like to see our festival become a small "retreat" or gathering (like they have in Austria) for Jew’s Harp players and their families/friends ... the original MAIN FOCUS of our festival. This way, the small festival could be held at one of our homes, in a park, even somewhere different each year. The organizational burdens would be almost totally eliminated and Guild membership fees should easily cover the costs and we wouldn’t have to do all the extra fund raising.
I know many of our participating non-Jew’s Harp musicians as well as the Richland community like the festival very much. Perhaps they could continue to have a folk music style festival in Richland, I would encourage that idea. But I am not willing to coordinate it. I want to emphasize that nothing definite has been decided yet. I think we should "shoot" for a meeting in mid-May to discuss all of this and come to a group decision. That would give all of us a chance to think about this and would also give those with other ideas a chance to express their thoughts and any other ideas that may be out there. If any of you would like to attend that meeting, drop me a note and let me know what date(s) are best for you. We will set a definite date after the first of the year and I’ll announce it in the next newsletter.
2002 FESTIVAL
I think another consideration is to NOT have the festival (in its present form) at all next year. Many of the Jew’s Harp players are going to Norway for the 4th International Jew’s Harp Congress and will be taking their vacation time/money for that. I don’t think it would be a totally bad thing to let the festival rest for a year. It would give us a year to gather input from our members, re-organize and decide the future direction of the festival. And if we decide to have a small gathering, that could be easily organized on short notice.
ANOTHER 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
This year was another 10th anniversary which should have been announced and celebrated at the festival ... but somehow "slipped through the cracks". Bill Gohring (festival and Guild co-founder), is celebrating his 10th year as a Jew’s Harp Maker. I think this is a very big accomplishment ... considering the fact that Bill had no one to teach him the art, has learned on his own and has become a well-respected Jew’s Harp maker throughout the world. So, CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BILL!
GUILD NEWS:
Jim Nelson, Guild Board Member, is not able to continue in that position. We also have one unfilled position on the Board. If anyone is interested in becoming a Board Member, please let me know ... we will need 2 new members for next year. We usually send out our "election of officers ballot" around the first of the year.
Take care and have a great winter!
Janet Gohring - Executive Director - The Jew’s Harp Guild
4th International Jew's Harp Festival and Congress
Dear Folks,
Just a small update on the 4th International Jew's Harp Festival and Congress. The dates
are now set at September 11-15, 2002. The place, as before, is Telemark/Rauland.
Yours, Fred Crane
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Oregon Art Beat: Jew's Harp Story
From: "Mike Midlo" <Mike_Midlo@opb.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 10:41 AM
Subject: Oregon Art Beat: Jew's Harp Story
To my surprise, we're going to air the story on Bill and the Jew's Harp Festival earlier
than expected.
OREGON ART BEAT
Thursday, November 8 at 8:00pm. It will repeat on the following Sunday, Nevember 11 at
6:00pm.
OPB television can be received in most homes in Oregon and SW Washington through general
reception or their cable service. Unfortunately, satellite systems do not carry OPB. If
folks have questions regarding how to receive OPB's broadcast, have them call or email
OPB's Audience Services Department.
audience_services@opb.org
1-888-293-1982
The web site will work too.
www.opb.org (then click on the Art Beat link)
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Listen to JH radio show through your computer
From: Lena Strayhorn
A very fun radio show was had by all on Saturday - "The Mouth Show", on
"TransPacific Sound Paradise", Rob Weisberg's show on WFMU 91.1 in the NYC
area... Rob brought some excellent recordings of juice harp, and I brought a few
instruments from my collection, and a brain full of stories... and JH esoterica...
All y'all are invited to give a listen at http://www.wfmu.org/Playlists/Rob
Rob & I plan to do another show in the next few months, combining our collections of
juice harp recordings. I'll keep you posted.
A note on the show - Akim Ndlovu of DhaFusion was also a guest on the show - he gave a particularly mind-blowing performance of "human beat box" combined with Mongolian throat singing! Stunning! I had never heard anything like it.
Best wishes, and up with juice harps. --Lena
Congratulations to JHG members Pat and Tessa Chapplle of London who
welcome a future J-harpist to the world!
Mother (and Dad) and baby doing well.
Info:
Sex: It's a boy!
Name: Sky Alexei Chappelle BAILEY
DOB: 18 October 2001
Time: 7.45am
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Hello JHG:
I got a couple more Trumps recently, that you might find interesting. Please feel free to
add them to the archives, if you think they are worthy. I have been in contact with Werner
Kumpl of Austria who is selling the rare Yakutian Jew's Harps. Heretofore, they were
nearly impossible to find. Werner is very honest and a nice guy. His service is quick and
his packaging superb. I got his name from http://www.khomus.de/en/,
a good source that is getting better all the time. The first one is described as a
Yakutian trump called Chimchoef (previously I sent you a shot of one called Prokovieff).
It is lovely with copper work of a Mammoth! I did carefully polish the trump although, as
you can see, I've been hesitant to polish the copper on the wood-case for fear of damaging
the wood.
mammoth3.jpg
This is a close-up of the interesting embossed copper:
mammoth2.jpg
Also, I bought a Japanese Hmong by Mahito Nagase ( Japan ). I think it is called a
"khokin," I am not very expert in Hmongs and I can't see
what makes this one so good and expensive. It is well made and sounds good, but after
paying $4.00 for Vietnamese Hmongs, through my daughter, it is hard to pay almost $50.00
for this one. Still, I'm glad to add it to my collection and it is very soothing to play.
J-hmong1.jpg
I hope you enjoy these pictures and my best to you and yours in these painful times.
Peter S. Balkan
Flagstaff, Arizona
USA
The PLUCK-N-POST needs more contributors!
If you have ideas for articles, sketches, or pictures, etc. Please query the editor at:
PLUCK-N-POST
Mark Poss
924 10th. Ave. N.
Nampa, ID. 83687
See the JHG STORE for makers, sellers. publications & jhg products
Genggongs For Sale I have Balinese "tebeng" available - these are genggong resonators, held in front of the instrument as one plays. They amplify the overtones and "compress" the sound - genggongs have never sounded better! These beautiful handmade tebeng are created from water buffalo skin, painted red & gold, and decorated with cut-outs in the manner of Balinese shadow-puppets. US$ 10 each.
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Lindsay Porteous Tutor Pack Jew's Harp & Mouthbow Tutor Cassettes |
North American
Jew's Harp Festival
1997 Highlights CD
The CD features 20 of the best Public Domain, spontaneous music,
or original composition performances of the 1997 festival.
The CD was well accepted at the Molln Congress.
US $12.00 each
Shipping: Domestic US - 1 item US$ 3.00 - Each additional item US$ 1.00
International - 1 item US$ 5.00 - Each additional item US$ 1.00
USASend Check or Money Order to:
The Jew's Harp Guild
c/o Ralph Christensen
2239 Fairfield Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Original
Art Blank note cards w/envelopes 39995 Sumpter Valley Hwy. |
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