GUILD TID-BITS: OPB TELEVISION PROGRAM: In early November, OPB's "Art Beat" featured a program on Bill Gohring, Jew's Harp Maker and the North American Jew's Harp Festival. It was very well done and brought a flood of inquiries about Jew's Harps. If you'd like to see the program, let us know and we'll lend you a copy of the video. (See related article)

Mark Poss, editor of PNP and our webmaster, tells me he is in the process of completing the work on the next NAJHF CD. We look forward to hearing it.

Damien Hess, a master's degree student is producing a short cartoon animation and one of the musical parts is for Jew's Harp. Maine composer, Jim Winters, is doing the musical score and word has it that Gordon Frazier will be doing the JH work. Jim has sent a copy of the score (which also includes parts for grand piano and hurdy-gurdy). This should be very interesting!

I'd like to close with an excerpt from a letter we received from Guild Member, Clive Julianus. Letters like this "really make my day"! (Note: when Clive attended the 2000 festival he spent much of the day with a severe headache ... his letter refers to this):

"I just came up with a new theory about that headache I had at the festival. I think it was massive growing pains. The space inside my head was being permanently altered by the experience ... not only has my relationship to music been forever improved, but as a consequence so has my relationship to life and community been improved."

So as we begin new directions ... for the festival as well as the New Year ... let us all be reminded that our relationship to music and our inner feelings have a direct reflection on our world (both near and far). With positive thoughts and vibrational tones, we CAN make a difference! Till next time ... Janet Gohring Executive Director, The Jew's Harp Guild

RESPONSES TO OPB'S TV SPECIAL ON JEW'S HARPS

We've received so many letters since the airing of the OPB program in November. They show just how many of us have had experiences with the Jew's Harp throughout our lives. Here are excerpts from some of the letters:

"While watching I remembered once when my father showed me a Jew's harp he had. I think they look really neat and interesting. I told my father I wanted one ..." Justin J., age 16, Lebanon, OR

"From a farm boy! I play'd with a Jew's harp when I was a kid, but as time went on forgot about it. I'll buy one or two." Gene P., age 63, Mount Angel, OR

"My son dearly loved his toy jewsharp when he was a little boy (he is 49 now). I'd like to rekindle his interest." Marie R., Pilot Rock, OR

"My husband had one around the age of 6 yrs., handed down from his brother - year 1936. We think the grandkids would love it." Carleen S., Oceanside, OR

"I have been looking for several years for a Jew's Harp ... I've always wanted one since seeing a Snoopy cartoon of him playing a Jew's Harp (a long time ago - 35 years)." Luanne S., Eugene, OR

"I have in the past tried to learn how to make music on various musical instruments (harmonica - flute - etc.) but never could quite get the hang of it ... I believe the Jew's Harp may be something I would be satisfied with."
Bill Z., age 74, Woodburn, OR

We have lost one of the greatest Americans in the Jew's harp field. Fred Whitlow passed away on April 1, 2001. To put it briefly, Fred was a great traditional player of country and bluegrass music; for some years he was America's best maker of harps; and he was a wonderful human being. He will be greatly missed. - Fred Crane

Robbie Clement, who took over making Whitlow Jaw Harps in 1986, remembers Fred as a wonderful guy to be around. He visited Fred, and his wife Neal, at their home in Florida to learn the art of making the fine instruments from the master himself. Fred had stopped building ‘harps because painful arthritis and offered to teach the skill to Robbie if he’d come stay with him for a couple of weeks. Robbie had never met Fred in person but had talked with him many times on the phone. At the time, Fred made harps in only four or five keys with special interest in the key of D, a favorite of Bluegrass players and friend Bill Munroe.

Robbie was immediately struck by Fred’s skill and commitment to excellence. He would often throw harps away if they did not meet his exacting standards. Harps, that anyone else would have accepted as playable. "His ear was magic," states Robbie, "he could tell when a [sliver] of spring-steel was out of pitch." Robbie also recalls that Fred, at 80 years old, was still called upon to be the "handyman" of the mobile home community in which he resided. He cheerfully responded to genuine pleas for help, but did not suffer fools easily. A classic perfectionist with the skills to back it up. "That visit," claims Robbie, "changed my life."

Robust character was the nature of Dr. Guy Grant of Devenport, Australia. His love of life and music touched thousands of people around the world.

As founder of the "OddMusic" email list (oddmusic.com) and frequent contributor to "Experimental Musical Instruments" magazine, he provided the spark for many to express their deepest odd-music passions. As a medical practitioner (Specialist Hypnotherapy), he used Jew’s harps, didjeridus, and other instruments, to teach breath control as a method of stress relief. ("Didjeridu Playing to Control Breathing in Stuttering." Keynote speaker, Speakeasy National Conference, March 1990) He was an early member of the JHG, and Foundation President: The Australian Didjeridu Association.

Though I never met the man in person, Dr. Guy (as he was known on the list) and I exchanged hundreds of e-mails since 1996. His biting wit was unsurpassed, but always tempered with concern and compassion when the situation called for it. His knowledge of instruments, encyclopedic; his diplomacy, impeccable; his lust for life, vital. I shall miss him. - Mark Poss

Harvey Job Matusow, 75 of Sugar River Mills in Claremont [NH] died January 17 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH from complications following an automobile accident earlier in [the] month. He was best known as being an actor, author and humanitarian. He invented CockyBoo the Clown, the Stringless Yo-Yo and the Magic Mouse Children’s Television Show. He had been involved in theatre, comedy, and drama since he was 12 years old. He worked in radio and television starting in 1947 and made appearances on the Mike Douglas Show, Howdy Doody Show. He founded the London Film Makes Co-Op and appeared in Young Guns 2, Young Riders TV, Iron Eagle III and Shadow Hunter. He helped create America’s and the Worlds first underground counterculture newspaper of the 1960’s, THE EAST VILLAGE OTHER and co founded the first counter culture newspaper in London, THE INTERNATIONAL TIMES, edited the AMERICAN, a weekly newspaper for Americans living in London. He was the author of 4 books, released 7 albums or CD’s. He was the executive director of SCAT-TV, the only public access television in the State of Utah, and also served as executive director of Claremont’s own CCTV Channel 8. He was a veteran of WWII. - Claremont, NH newspaper

Job blew into the 1998 North American Jew’s Harp Festival like a hot chinook wind. After a slightly rough start, I enjoyed getting to know him. Many of us had very little clue about who he was, his history, or his involvement with the Jew’s harp. He had made the long trek from Utah with a troupe of people, and ankle-biter dogs, and had promised to film the festival.

He contributed quite a bit to that festival: He played his "Peace Bells," made from spent munitions, and calmed us with the irony of their tones; Charmed us with a few Magic Mouse stories; Made us laugh as the sound-effects man of the "Rooster Song" during band-scramble; Graciously signed copies of his book, All Right God, Come Out With Your Hands Up... I know You’re Up There and CD, Harvey Matusow's Jew’s Harp Band - War Between Fats and Thins. Job did his best to imbue us with his sense of peace and joy, leaving us richer for having had the chance to meet him.

BULLETIN BOARD

A new "club" for jawharpist is at:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/jawharpist
Come join in the fun!

Shaman/Khoomei (Tuvan Throat-Singing)
Tour News!
From: Steve Sklar Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002
I am happy to announce that my Tuvan friends shaman/throat-singer Nikolai Oorzhak and translator Eres Saltchak have finally received their visas to visit the United States. It's been a long wait for us all, and I appreciate everyone’s patience!
I am ready now to begin scheduling our tour, offering concerts, workshops and lessons in Tuvan Throat-Singing (Khoomei), shamanism, and also individual healings and shamanic massage. Please visit my web site at <http://khoomei.com> for information (just click the Announcements link). You’ll find information about Nikolai, including a new bio page, myself, the programs we’re offering, pictures, videos, and more. If you are interested in organizing events in your area, please contact me asap about which programs interest you, and provide preferred dates. If you are just interested in attending events, you’ll receive updates as events are planned. Don’t forget: if you’d like to see events/programs not listed on our web site, please feel free to contact me. We are eager to share our experience and teaching with everyone who is interested!
Unfortunately, we are still awaiting word from the Canadian authorities, so I am still unsure whether we will be able to visit Canada. I’ll keep our Canadian friends updated when I get more news. This is a great opportunity for everyone interested in khoomei, shamanism, alternative healing, and Tuvan/Central Asian culture. Please contact me with any questions, suggestions, etc.
Chetterdym (Tuvan for Thank You),
Steve Sklar http://khoomei.com