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Playing the Marranzano Jew's harp has had a strong effect on my career as a musician. It was love at first sight. As I was getting familiar with this instrument and having felt its strong passionate energy, I was powerfully attracted to it. I owe this introduction mainly to my professional collaboration and friendship with Mimmo Cavallaro. Thanks to him I approached the instruments of Mediterranean folk tradition.
In Japan, many different types of Jew's harps are played. The modern Japanese term for metal instruments is Koukin, which roughly means "mouth zither". Jew's harps made of bamboo are played by the
Neptune Chapotin has dedicated his life to the Jew's harp, an instrument he encountered in 2002 while travelling in Sweden. He has since dedicated himself to mastering the instrument, combining autodidactic elements with musical styles from various Jew's harp schools. He shares his fascination with the instrument with others by hosting a weekly Jew's harp stall in Goa and has been a central network point for the active Jew's harp scene in south Asia. Chapotin has also hosted the World Mouth Harp Festival of India for the past three years, a sign that a revival of Jew's harp music may have begun.
The name Utae in Japanese is composed of the characters "song" and "poem". The Mukkuri Jaw Harp player Utae Ehara now lives in Tokyo. However, her family history is closely entangled with the
The typical sound of the Duduk is often described as contemplative and melancholic. The Armenian double-reed woodwind instrument again and again enchants people with its smooth sounds. Actually the repertoire of sad songs for the Duduk is by far larger than that of hilarious or dancing tunes. But what does sad mean? Which feelings and temper can be expressed with the Duduk? And when does the Duduk sound bright and jovial?
Two melodious documentaries come from the Magdeburg film production company Blende39, Eva-Luise Volkmann and Peter Bräunig. "Mundton", a portrait of the international Jew's harp scene, shot during the 5th International Jew's Harp Festival in Amsterdam, was released in 2006. At the suggestion of Jew's harp and duduk player Sören Birke, a second film is now being made. "Bitter Apricot" is still in the middle of production. The music documentary tells the story of the relationship between the world-famous duduk player Djivan Gasparyan and his grandson, who wants to pass the duduk on to the next generation. Eva-Luise Volkmann from Blende39 spoke with Helen Hahmann about the motives and the appeal of approaching these two musical instruments in two documentary films.