The Spirit Liberator Jaw Harp from Russia is an experimental jaw harp produced by the jaw harp smith Ustinov. The closed frame of this jaw harp is exceptionally stable and ensures durability. The design is appealingly minimalist and gives the instrument a special aesthetic.
The vibration behavior of the Spirit Liberator Jaw Harp is effortlessly set in motion from a standstill and is in the middle to upper range. The sound of this jaw harp is very compact, with few overtones, very fine bass gradations, and a slightly resonant quality. Unlike other jaw harps, the volume does not get louder through breathing, but rather bassier.
The playing techniques of the Spirit Liberator Jaw Harp mainly involve the oral cavity and the larynx. The playing dynamics are slow, reverential, meditative, spherical, and underpinning, making it a perfect instrument for creating a relaxing and calming atmosphere.
The idea of making a jaw harp out of a harmonium reed is not new, but it has been beautifully implemented with this instrument. Especially inhaling air creates an incomparable vibration and massage of the respiratory tract, which is unusual but absolutely unique. The Spirit Liberator Jaw Harp focuses on modulations through the larynx and in reverential solo play. It is definitely an accompaniment for the journey inward and for experimenting. Caution is advised with the lips, as the reed is not recessed in the frame like with most other jaw harps. The lips can quickly become painfully caught between the jaw harp reed and frame.
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Russia is a country with a handful of jaw harp traditions: in Sakha/Yakutia, in the Altai, and in Tuva the Khomus (or Komus) is played; in Bashkortostan the Kubyz is known, and in Western Russia and in the big cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg one can hear the name Vargan. An overview.