Online edition of The Official Newsletter of the Jew's Harp Guild - The Pluck-n-Post -

Updated 3/2003 - Volume 7 Issue 1 - Spring 2003

 


Sponsored by:

Jew's Harp Guild
members around
the World

Contents:

Focus on JHG News & Issues
J
ANET G
OHRING
GUILD NEWS

2003 NAJH Festival Location?
JANET GOHRING

Bulletin Board
Post Your Notes

International Jew's Harp Society
News and Officers

Pictorial Archive
Harps by Holland's Steven Stoops

CD Reviews
by Frederick Crane (link to jhg info article)

Online Newsletter Archive
Previous Newsletters

 

Janet Gohring JHG Executive Director Focus on JHG News and IssuesFocus on JHG News and Issues

Janet Gohring — JHG Executive Director

Hello Jew’s harp friends,

2003 looks like it will be a very good year for the Jew’s harp, lots of exciting things happening. I’m so glad YOU are part of making it happen.

 

GUILD MEMBERSHIP

New Guild members are signing up in greater numbers than ever before. I’m sure this is due, in part, to the Norway Congress last fall ... plus we’re getting quite a few new members from our website.. So, a great big welcome to all those who are just joining us. Please share with us your Jew’s harp experiences, techniques, photos or ideas. We’re always looking for newsletter contributions and would welcome your input.

I also want to give a big thanks to all of you who have renewed your Guild membership for this year. Your continuing enthusiasm is wonderful!

If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, there will be a renewal form enclosed with this newsletter. You will not receive any further notices.

Through your interest and support, the Guild can continue to be effective at spreading the word about our favorite little instrument!

NAHJF 2003

We WILL be having a festival this summer. Tentative dates are August 16 & 17. Remember, the festival will be for Jew’s harp players (and their families & friends). The format will be a casual music camp- out with impromptu jamming and performances.

We need to decide on the location and we’d like to have some input from those who plan to attend. [see 2003 NAJH FESTIVAL LOCATION article in this newsletter]. Once a final decision has been made, we’ll mail out a flyer with all the details. This flyer will go to all Guild members, recent past festival Jew’s harp performers, and any new people who write for information.

NAJHF 1998-2000 Highlights CD

Have you listened to the new festival CD yet? We’ve shipped out quite a few lately and are getting lots of good input. Guild member, Adam Schutzman from Maine, had this to say, "I just received [the CD] in the mail and I’m blown away by the beauty of these recordings! Its so exciting to hear others rocking out on the harp! Thanks for all the amazing music/inspiration!" And thank you, Adam, for sharing your enthusiasm with us.

2003 ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following officers were re-elected: Janet Gohring, Executive Director; Kathi Vinson, Secretary/Treasurer; Board Members: Bill Gohring, Gordon Frazier, Larry Hanks, Denise Harrington, Mike Stiles. (Curtis Chamberlain received one write-in vote.)

If you are interested in becoming a board member, or would like to nominate someone as board member, please let me know before November 15th so we can be sure the name is on the ballot for next year.

Thanks to everyone who sent in their ballots. It was nice to see the ballot included with most of the membership renewal forms I received.

Keep twangin’ ,
Janet Gohring, Executive Director - The Jew’s Harp Guild

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6harpist at NAJHF 20006 - JHarpist NAJHF 2000


2003 NAJH FESTIVAL LOCATION?
Janet Gohring — JHG Executive Director

In the last newsletter I asked for suggestions on a festival site for this year. I have received only one other suggestion in addition to my original thought of using one of the three State Parks here in eastern Oregon. I would like to ask for input from those who plan to attend ... where would YOU like to have it? I’m enclosing a questionnaire with this newsletter and ask you to send it back to me as soon as possible. We will have a Guild meeting in mid-April to make a final decision and I’d like to have your comments by that time.

The Thought

Eastern Oregon State Parks: The Jew’s Harp Guild would pay for all camping fees. All three of these have "primitive" camp sites with water nearby. None have public shower facilities so we’d have to bring our "solar showers". If the festival is held at one of the State Parks, we will not have a main stage or sound system.

(1) Denise Harrington, JHG Board Member, has offered the Bay City Arts Center in Tillamook, Oregon (on the Oregon Coast). She says, "The Arts Center has offered this for free. It’s a two story old Masonic Lodge with bathrooms and a large kitchen. There is a stage and we would probably have some sort of limited sound system (depending on volunteers). There is a city-run campground across the street and we could probably get it reserved for us to use that weekend. The building also has an adjacent lot we could use for camping. Some people could sleep or play all night indoors. The only limits are keeping the noise down after 10:00 pm. They also have a pancake breakfast the 3rd Sunday of every month, so that might work out well for us.

Tillamook, OR
Tillamook, OR

2) Catherine Creek State Park - 8 miles SE of Union, Oregon on highway 203. A pleasantly scenic area with the Wallowa Mountain peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness area forming a backdrop. Sparkling Catherine Creek offers a refreshing, peaceful setting. Parking at all sites (can accommodate self-contained RV’s). Restrooms with flush toilets. Firewood for sale. Horseshoe pits. 1.5 mile hiking trail.

Catherine Creek State Park campground

Catherine Creeek State Park Map
Catherine Creek State Park

(3) Red Bridge State Wayside - 16 miles SW of LaGrande, Oregon on highway 244. Has a forested river setting and is nice and shady. The river runs through the park so there’s good fishing. This is about 5 miles west of the junction of Hwy. 244 and I-84 (easy access from the freeway). This also has sites for self-contained RV’s as well as a group RV camp. Firewood for sale. Restrooms with flush toilets. Horseshoe pits.

redbridge campground

Red Bridge Sate Wayside Map

Red Bridge State Wayside

(4) Minam State Recreation Area - off Hwy 82, 15 miles NE of Elgin, Oregon. On the Wallowa River State Scenic Waterway between the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Picnic area with fire pits. Vault toilet facilities. River rafting access. Trails for fishermen.

minam campground

Minam State Recreation Area map

Minam State Recreation Area

I look forward to receiving your comments and thank you in advance for your input. - Janet Gohring


bulletin board - Post Your NotesPOST YOUR NOTES

(1) I am the author of a book scheduled for Fall 2004 publication, about radio and TV creator, film maker, book author, Jean Shepherd, who often played the jew’s harp on his radio program (1955-1977). Sometimes he would refer to it as his "hagantwanger." I am interested in finding out if he made up this word, or got it from somewhere. A West Coast performer named Hagan played a "HAGANTWANGER" but it looks nothing like a jew’s harp in the photos, is about the size of a football, and seems to be strummed by holding it at the waist. I’d appreciate any information you might have.
Eugene Bergmann — ebbergmann@aol.com

(2) I’m hoping to find someone who collects old jew’s harps. I have a small collection that I’ve acquired over the past 16 years. There are 22 jew’s harps ranging in size from 2¼" long X 1½" wide to 4d" long X 3d" wide. 15 are stamped either ENGLAND or MADE IN ENGLAND, one is stamped RICH U.S.A., and 6 have no apparent markings. They come in a variety of shapes. I can send photocopies if someone is interested in purchasing the entire collection. I’m asking $450 postpaid. I have been playing the jew’s harp for over 30 years as a historical interpreter with the National Park Service. As a participant in many archeological projects at NPS historic sites, we found remains of jew’s harps at frontier military forts, fur trading posts and mining towns. Bill Henry, 14872 Fine Drive—Grass Valley, CA 95949

(3) Congratulations with this interesting web site! My name is Martin Smith and I am working as a research assistant at the University of Trondheim, Norway. These days I am trying to construct a comprehensive bibliography including literature/sources on Jew’s harps, as part of a preparatory research project on Jew’s harps initiated by Professor Ola Kai Ledang. I therefore wonder if the Jew’s harp Guild might have a literature list that you would be willing to share with me. If so, please send it by e-mail to: marsmi@online.no . Thank you.

(4) Hello all Friends of this little Thing! In Order to give you a new, comfortable "home" I just made a Forum for Jewsharps - www.jewsharpforum.de.vu - Please have a look at this and let me know what kind of Areas you want and what else you may miss. Please support me and subscribe to Jewsharpforum!
Thanks Frank Kolb www.khomus.de

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Pictorial Archive
The Jew’s Harp Guild Pictorial Archive
needs photos of your favorite ‘harps. Send (non-returnable) pics and info to:
The Jew’s Harp Guild Pictorial Archive: c/o Mark D. Poss

Harps by Holland’s Steven Stoop Oct. ‘02

Stoops JH1    Stoops JH2

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International Jew's Harp Society

A Note From Janet Gohring

We’re very happy to announce the formation of the IJHS. They are now accepting membership. I encourage all of you to join and help support this world-wide effort to "bring together people with any kind of interest in the Jew’s harp, to exchange and disseminate information on the instrument in past and present, to support national activities, to coordinate global activities, and to generally promote the
instrument."

For a membership application, write or email us (here at the Guild) and we’ll send you a copy of their first
official newsletter and a membership application form.

I am very honored to be elected as one of the Board members.

Officers are Franz Kumpl (Austria), President; Fred Crane (USA), Honorary President; Tadagawa Leo (Japan), Secretary/Treasurer and the following members at large: Gerd Conradt (Germany), Janet Gohring (USA); Yedil Khuseinov (Kazakhstan); Spiridon Shishigin (Sakha); Valentina Suzukei (Tuva); Tran Quang Hai (Vietnam/ France); Ivan Alexeyev (Sakha); Manfred Russman (Austria); Rimma Madvarova (Kyrgyzstan); Svein Westad (Norway); Robert Zagretdinov (Bashkortostan); Phons Bakx (The Netherlands); Anton Bruhin (Switzerland); and Anon Egeland (Norway).

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See the  CD Reviews by Frederick Crane 1-2003



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

Or use the JHG Feedback form.


Announcing the release of the

North American Jew's Harp Festival
1998 - 2000 Highlights CD

Compact Disc - DBS-2707 - Total Time : 61:47

US$12.00 each + US$ 3.00 S & H in USA (US$ 5.00 international).
Allow 4-8 weeks for delivery. Sorry no CODs.

Send check or money order to:
The Jew’s Harp Guild
c/o Ralph Christensen
2239 Fairfield Street
Eureka, CA 95501

North American Jew's Harp Festival 1998-2000 Highlights

Summary:

Highlights 1998 - 2000

The North American Jew’s Harp Festival is . . .
musicians from Australia, Austria, Hungary,
the Netherlands, and the United States
playing traditional, original, improvisational,
and uncategorizable music on Jew’s harp,
dumbek, bhodran, Clackamore, cigar box
fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, random
pieces of wood, and more.

There’s nothing else like the
North American Jew’s Harp Festival.

 

See the JHG STORE for makers, sellers. publications & jhg products


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

Send check or money order to:
The Jew's Harp Guild/Festival
69954 Hidden Valley Lane
Cove, OR 97824

Lindsay Porteous
Scottish Champion Jawharpist

Tutor Pack
Book, CD, or cassette with harp
How to play and have fun
with the Jew's Harp


(Book, CD or cassette may also
be purchased separately)

Jew's Harp & Mouthbow Tutor Cassettes
New CDs -"The Art of the Pickin' Bow"
"The Art of the Trump"

For list and information:
Lindsay Porteous - Tron House
Culross, Fife, KY12 8JG Scotland
Phone: ++01383-880271


Original Art
Featuring Jew's Harps

Blank note cards w/envelopes
Christmas Cards w/envelopes
Limited numbered, signed prints

R. Vinson, Artist

39995 Sumpter Valley Hwy.
Baker City, OR 97814
(541) 894-2345 or rvinson@eoni.com

Original Art by Ron Vinson

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