![]() There are many theories for the origin of the name jew's harp. Marin Mersenne, Harmonie Universelle (1636) Etymology several Jew's harps of various sizes, a curious harmony is produced. When the tongue is made to vibrate, a buzzing is heard which imitates that of bees, wasps, and flies. Now one may strike the tongue with the index finger in two ways, i.e., by lifting it or lowering it: but it is easier to strike it by raising it, which is why the extremity, C, is slightly curved, so that the finger is not injured. The trump is grasped while its extremity is placed between the teeth in order to play it and make it sound. Archaeological finds of surviving examples in Europe have been claimed to be almost as old, but those dates have been challenged both on the grounds of excavation techniques, and the lack of contemporary writing or pictures mentioning the instrument.Īlthough this instrument is used by lackeys and people of the lower class, this does not mean it is not worthy of consideration by better minds. The earliest depiction of somebody playing what seems to be a Jew's harp is a Chinese drawing from the 3rd century BCE, and curved bones discovered in the Shimao fortifications in Shaanxi, China are believed to be the earliest evidence of its existence, dating back to before 1800 BCE. History Young Man with joodse harp by Dirck van Baburen, 1621 The player on the Jew's harp, in order to isolate the harmonics, frames his mouth as though intending to pronounce the various vowels." See: bugle scale. The black notes on the stave show the scale which may be produced by using two harps, one tuned a fourth above the other. "The lower harmonics of the series cannot be obtained, owing to the limited capacity of the resonating cavity. The range of a tenor Jew's harp Play range as string harmonics ⓘ By using the cavity of the mouth as a resonator, each harmonic in succession can be isolated and reinforced, giving the instrument the compass shown." ![]() The note or tone thus produced is constant in pitch, though by changing the shape of the mouth, and the amount of air contained in it (and in some traditions closing the glottis), the performer can cause different overtones to sound and thus create melodies.Īccording to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, "The vibrations of the steel tongue produce a compound sound composed of a fundamental and its harmonics. The teeth must be parted sufficiently for the reed to vibrate freely, and the fleshy parts of the mouth should not come into contact with the reed to prevent damping of the vibrations and possible pain. The frame is held firmly against the performer's parted teeth or lips (depending on the type), using the mouth as a resonator, greatly increasing the volume of the instrument. Jew's harps may be categorized as idioglot or heteroglot (whether or not the frame and the tine are one piece) by the shape of the frame (rod or plaque) by the number of tines, and whether the tines are plucked, joint-tapped, or string-pulled. Despite the colloquial name the Jew's harp most likely originated in Siberia, specifically in or around the Altai Mountains, and has no relation to the Jewish people. The Jew's harp, also known as jaw harp, juice harp, or mouth harp, is a lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame. ![]()
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