That's mesmerizing! It's the first time I can recall hearing an actual melody on a jews harp! Wonderful! And one might be mesmerized simply by watching this young man's beautiful eyes!
It's a little late, but you should look up "munnharpe" - the norwegian jew's harp used to play folk tunes and dances - it's probably the most melodic style. Search for Vitaly Obukov on YT or the compilation "Fille-Vern".
We saw this young man play this Sicilian version of the Jews Harp as well as a variety of other traditional instruments (a tambourine-type instrument, a mandolin, a concertina-like accordion, and a pair of wooden sticks. Giorgio has researched and learned these instruments without any academic assistance and is striving to keep the historic musical past of Sicily alive with his work.
What he was playing sounds like a classic medieval Sicilian song. I think it is called Montedoro...along those lines. Very similar if not. Imagine that was all done with a single string and the sound resonating through his skull!
I play the jaw harp as well but have yet to own a Marranzanu. It's interesting, they make their jaw harps very melodic without much saturation, and higher much like jaw harps from India. But the Sicilians, Norwegians and Spanish are the main ones who hold the tongue in place with a steel block instead of hammer forging it. The Norwegian Munnharpe is also made to be very melodic.
pretty great clip --- i love how this instrument is used in many different cultural music. one of the sickest performances (on youtube) is of a Rajastani street performer -- look around for it!
Please explain, when playing the jew's harp, do you need to put your teeth on top and bottom on the decks, or do you just need to press the decks on the side of the teeth?
Amazing, can I ask you if you have a good address for me to buy maranzano/scaciapensieri?! I found one second hand last time in Italy, for a few euro, a really pretty one, but I'd love to collect some more.. It's difficult to find blacksmiths still making them... Hope you can help me out, thx, Rico
