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Online edition of The Official Newsletter of the Jew's Harp Guild - The Pluck-n-Post -
Updated 12/2003 - Volume 7 Issue 3 - Winter 2003
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 A Word from the Executive DirectorJanet Gohring — JHG Executive Director |
Hello harpers,
I hope this special NAJHF edition of the Pluck 'n' Post finds all of you well and happy
and twangin' !
2003 NAJHF: If you weren't at the 11th annual NAJHF in August, you
missed a very good time. We all were very pleased with the new festival location at the
Bay City Arts Center. The center provided lots of room for all our activities and we very
much appreciated the help and support we received from the folks at the Center as well as
the City Council of Bay City.
A very SPECIAL THANKS goes to Denise Harrington and Curtis Chamberlain for all their
hard work in coordinating the festival. It was a very casual, relaxed and TOTALLY FUN
TIME! Curtis recorded the festival music; copies of individual performances are available
upon request.
It was great seeing so many of our past festival musicians again. I often wonder if we
shouldn't be calling it a "Reunion" instead of a 'Festival" !! We were
happy to meet a new Jew's harp friend, Bruce Barlow (from Lawrence, Kansas). He and past
festival attendee John Palmes (from Juneau, Alaska) traveled many miles to share the
weekend with us.
All in all, it was the perfect weekend. Perfect weather ... terrific food (both from
the great cooks at the Arts Center as well as local seafood fare) ... wonderful music ...
and fabulous friends. I hope you enjoy the photos and related articles in this newsletter.
NAJHF 2004: We already have some great ideas for next year when the
festival will again be in Bay City on July 30 and 31. Festival coordinators will be Denise
Harrington, Curtis Chamberlain and Gene Ralph. Next year we hope to give more focus to
Kid's Events. Lorraine Tendick volunteered to coordinate those events with help from her
daughter, Amanda, and Amber Stiles. If you'd like to be a volunteer or have ideas for
events, let me know.
GUILD NEWS: Many thanks go to all those who attended the post-festival
Guild meeting. Its always good to get together and brainstorm. Good input was shared
regarding the festival and its new location.
Bill Gohring resigned as an active Board member. Since he IS one of the founders of the
Festival and Guild, he agreed to remain as an Honorary Board Member. Bill requested that
Gene Ralph's name replace his name on the next Board Member ballot. We all want to thank
Bill for his MANY contributions to the Jew's harp movement. Certainly, he has been a
driving force here in America to bring all of us a little closer to the Jew's harp.
IJHS: As I mentioned last time, the International Jew's Harp Society
was looking for another location for the 2005 Congress (apparently the new building that
would house the Congress in Amsterdam could not be completed until 2005). We had been
asked if it were possible to host it in conjunction with our festival, but we simply lack
the funds, location and man-power to host such an event, especially on such short notice.
I received word from Fred Crane and it now appears that efforts to hold the Congress in
Hungary (Aron and Zoltan Szilagyi) have fallen through. We will keep you posted!
I'd like to close with a reminder that Guild membership renewals will be sent out with
our next newsletter. We will be offering several membership renewal specials with
discounted prices on 2003 NAJHF T shirts and the 1998-2000 NAJHF Festival Highlights CD
(when purchased in conjunction with your membership renewal).
Till next time ... keep twangin' !! Janet Gohring - Executive Director, The Jew's Harp
Guild
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NAJHF 2003
A Short Report
by M. D. Poss
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| Change can be good. And that was certainly the case
for the change of venue for this year’s celebration of the magical Jew’s harp.
Thanks to the hard work and organizational skills of Denise Harrington & Curtis
Chamberlain, their group of local volunteers, and the folks at the Bay City Arts Center,
the belatedly announced event came off with very few glitches indeed. So well in fact that
we plan to host the event in Bay City, Oregon again in July, 2004. Mild sea breezes and daytime temps in the 70s are marked changes from the
smoke-filled skies and stifling heat we sometimes experienced in the previous location.
The grand old southern-style mansion that is the Bay City Arts Center comes pre-equipped
with piano and stage within an expansive, resounding room that is perfect for our
performances (little or no set-up required!). The Arts Center folks provided many
reasonably priced meals from the well equipped (open) kitchen and large dining room.
Campers and RVers found inexpensive refuge in the adjacent city park.
Bay City (population around 1200) was a pleasant surprise to those of
us who’ve never visited this part of the Oregon coast. A short walk away from
Tillamook Bay. A short drive from Rockaway Beach and other scenic locales, it offers a
bushel-load of vacation opportunities (make a week out of it).
Even though attendance was low this year (the late announcement), many locals and
tourists found their way to the festival, drawn by well-placed flyers.
Good people make great events. A quick glance at
the Festival Recap will reveal the names of all the fine folks that participated this
year. Many are returning friends from past festivals, and there are several newcomers.
While Open Mike performances and workshops were rather sparsely
attended, those that were there were treated to a variety of musical expressions. Everyone
seemed to enjoy the chance to try their hand at the Musical Saw (Thanks, Curtis and Alan),
were surprised by the throat singing Andy and the pop-n-clap routine by Bruce. Whether
laid-back or high-energy, all the performances were a treat to hear.
The highlight of the festival was Saturday as the crowd swelled with
the influx of local folks to experience the Band Scramble and featured performances. Baby
Gramps and Curtis Chamberlain picked up the energy level with their very unique set while
Jim Nelson soothed us all with his Celtic harp. There was a little bit of everything
packed in to these few hours and every one of the local folks I talked to were astounded,
and thrilled to welcome our show to their town.
Every new machine needs a little tune up to run smoothly and we do have a little work
to do for next year. I hope that having this time to get the word out about NAJHF 2004 we
can inspire many more folks to join us in our annual celebration.
Thanks to everyone! See you next year. Mark |
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 < Denise Harrington
NAJHF 2003 Recap |
| FESTIVAL COORDINATORS: Denise
Harrington and Curtis Chamberlain
Performers participating in the Open Mike,
the Grand Jam and the Band Scramble:
Allan DeLay - Musical Saw, Portland, Oregon
Bill Gohring - Jew's Harp, Sumpter, Oregon
Bruce Barlow - Jew's harp, Lawrence, Kansas
Curtis Chamberlain - Ukulele, Musical Saw, Washtub Bass, Jew's harp, Kazoo, Clackamore,
Portland, Oregon
Dan Adams - Piano, Tillamook, Oregon
Dan Gossi - Jew's Harp, Clackamore, Didj, Boise, Idaho
Denise Harrington - Jew's Harp, Garibaldi, Oregon
Gene Ralph - Guitar, Jew's harp, Banks, Oregon
Gordon Frazier - Jew's Harp, Clackamore, bones, kazoo, other stuff, Seattle, Washington
Homer Welty - Chorded Zither, Kaiser, Oregon
Ingrid Berkhout - Jew's harp, Seattle, Washington
Jack Roberts - Vocal, Guitar, Banjo, Carson, Washington
Janet Gohring - Piano, Autoharp, Jew's harp, Shakers, Voice, Sumpter, Oregon
Jim Nelson - Guitar, Voice, Clogging, Celtic Harp, Garibaldi, Oregon
John C. Bogert - Harmonica, Fiddle, Orofino, Idaho
John Palmes - Mouthbow, Juneau, Alaska
Lisa Kendall - Voice, Tillamook, Oregon
Mark Poss - Jew's Harp, Clackamore, Hand drums, Odd stuff, Nampa, Idaho
Michael Bruesch - Guitar, mandolin, Clackamore, Jew's harp, Guiro, stir xylophone,
shakers, Caldwell, Idaho
Nikki Jones - Ukulele Portland, Oregon
Roger Tendick - Jew's Harp Veneta, Oregon
Wayland Harman - Jew's Harp, Clackamore, MouthBow, Odd stuff, Boise, Idaho |
ON-STAGE PERFORMERS: Curtis
Chamberlain & The Blind Rootin' Hogs
Andy
Baby Gramps
Denise Harrington & Homer Welty
Wayland Harman
Gordon Frazier
Bruce Barlow
Denise Harrington, Ingrid Berkhout, Janet Gohring and other ladies
Jack Roberts
Chris Towne
Bill Gohring
Jim Nelson and Denise Harrington
The OddTones
WORKSHOPS:
Jew's Harp—Gordon Frazier
Mouthbow—Wayland Harman & John Palmes
Musical Saw—Curtis Chamberlain & Allan DeLay
BAND SCRAMBLE:
BAND #1- "The Mother Shuckers"
Gene Ralph, Denise Harrington, Bill Gohring, Nikki Jones, John Palmes, Homer Welty,
Roger Tendick, John Bogert
BAND #2 - "Tennessee-ans"
Michael Bruesch, Bruce Barlow, Gordon Frazier, Dan Gossi, Lisa Kendall, Dan Adams,
Curtis Chamberlain
BAND #3 - "Weapons of Mass Destruction"
Jack Roberts, Ingrid Berkhout, Chris Towne, Wayland Harman, Allan DeLay, Mike Stiles,
Janet Gohring |
 POST YOUR NOTES
- This is a really great site. I stumbled onto it when someone mentioned it
on the Acutab banjo list. I've got a question concerning the Jew's Harp tuning. How
important is it? I know that harmonica players tend to carry an assortment of harps in
order to play in various keys. Is this necessary with a Jew's Harp? Could someone play a
Jew's Harp tuned to say C# along with someone playing a guitar tune in G? gcloy@yahoo.com
Hello: I'm an 18th Century Amer. Rev War re-enactor
and my battalion has an interest in my forming them into a Jew’s harp orchestra for
evening entertainment and general merriment. Can you tell me what you would recommend for
a whole slew of beginners? Any tips or ideas in how to teach a group, and what sort of
simple beginning music to consider leading them in (I'm actually a trained operatic
soprano with this weird reenacting hobby and I imagine I can at least get the rudiments
down of this ancient art form). Many thanks for any guidance. Cathy Thorpe email: cathy.thorpe@boosey.com
- Hi, I play the Jew's harp in my Celtic and Swiss accordion bands. I am
interested in learning some information about playing the Jew's harp in my Renaissance
band. Is there any documentation of this as a true instrument of the Renaissance, and any
information on how it could be played? What kind of tunes etc? Dawn dawnhoebee@shaw.ca
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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
| Kou Xiang—Chinese Brass ‘Harp Sets These
are similar to the type that Gordon Frazier played at NAJHF 2003.
Not tuned to a specific key, but tuned to each other, to produce a wonderful set of tones.
Played all together or separately; on the lips or just close to the mouth. |
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A Brief Review of
VIM 11
By M. D. Poss
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A change is in the future of the VIM journal. Editor
and publisher, Frederick Crane, starts this issue with a Farewell, Sort of.
In the opening paragraph he states, "After 21 years and 11 issues, VIM is wishing its
readers farewell. Just sort of a farewell. For its place will be taken by the new Journal
of the International Jew’s Harp Society. At his age, the editor and publisher
will not change much between now and the end of 2003, which should bring the first issue
of the new journal, and it will look a lot like the old one— a bit of a new look may
be the only difference worthy of note. The journal will go to members of the IJHS; it will
cost more, as the annual dues will also pay for a newsletter and other expenses of the
Society. But it will be a still very modest $20 a year, and I hope you’ll stay with
us. So — hail and farewell.". Fred told me in an email that he will remain
editor and printer.
These116 pages overflow with photographs and reproductions. Most useful to any
collector (or Ebay bidder) are pages 67 through 116 which highlight reproductions of Trumps
In American Musical Instrument Trade Catalogs. These clear, crisp images, with text
that is almost entirely readable, have already become my reference standard to identify
English, Irish, Scotch and American harps from 1874 through 1982. The catalog pages also
show measurements and descriptions. Speaking of references, this issue supplements the
Trump bibliographies previously published in VIMs 7 & 9.
Being an expert on medieval musical instruments, Fred has a penchant to
include historical data and translations covering word origins (Trompe, Cacapensieri),
personalities (Koch), and folklore (Trolls and Trumps). I have faith that the new-look Journal
of the IJHS will continue this inclination as it rounds out my education and
understanding of the history of the instrument.
VIM is not stuck in the past. We learn about modern makers (Clayton G. Bailey, USA,
claytonbailey.com) (Dr, Abe Kazuhiro, Japan] My Mukkuri), the recent fieldwork of
José Pignocchi of Formosa, Argrentina, (beautiful full-page photographs), and honors to
Trân Quang Hai and Mike Seeger. You just don’t see this stuff anywhere else!
This issue is superb! It is fitting such quality should denote the last of VIM’s
long run. I wish I could be half the
editor/good-all-around-guy/printer/publisher/musicologist, that Fred has become. VIM is
his legacy that I hope will evolve.
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Announcing the publication of
A HISTORY OF THE TRUMP IN PICTURES: EUROPE AND
AMERICA
by Frederick Crane
The subject matter of the book is 179 pictures plus variants-paintings,
drawings, prints, and sculptures-from the years 1353 to 2000 that include trumps or
trumpists. The book is illustrated with 237 pictures, including details. The accompanying
text discusses each picture or group of pictures, and draws generalizations about the
trump-where it was known, how it was played and by whom, and what were the attitudes
toward it.
The complete list of pictures forms the appendix, with basic data on the pictures,
artists, owners, and literature. There is an extensive bibliography.
Price per copy including postage: U.S.A. $22 - Other countries $25
To order, state the number of copies required and send your payment.
Payment: check on a U.S. bank, international postal money order, cash (with some risk).
These methods of payment only, please.
Frederick Crane
601 N. White St.
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641 U.S.A.
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.
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:
Jew’s Harp Guild/Festival
69954 Hidden Valley Lane
Cove, OR 97824
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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.
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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
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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 |
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