Fifth International Jew’s Harp Festival 2006

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – The 5th International Jew’s harp
Festival will take place in Amsterdam from July 28th through July 30th. The
Jew’s harp is the most widely circulated musical instrument in the world. It is
associated with the Flower Power era, American country music and Ennio
Morricone’s famous spaghetti western music. During the festival, which the
Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ is organizing in association with the International Jew’s
Harp Society, hundreds of players, Jew’s harp makers and researchers from remote
corners of the world will come to Amsterdam in order for the Dutch audience to
get acquainted with the astounding versatility of this small instrument. Concerts

The core of the festival is the participation of some 60 very accomplished
instrumentalists and their ensembles which represent the diverging musical
traditions in an excellent manner. The program consists of 8 main concerts which
will take place in the Main hall of the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. Asian Jew’s harp
players with their electrifying and idiomatic sound will interpret the authentic
manner of playing as it has been performed for centuries in South East Asia, the
cradle. In the concert Shamanism and Folklore you will hear that Scandinavia has
a distinct Jew’s harp folklore. In Europe much experimenting takes place in
collaboration with modern instruments. The Dutch groups Oorbeek + Plunk, that
will perform in the Contemporary Jew’s Harp concert are a good example of this.
Musicians and composers from various continents will join forces in East meets
West.

Lectures, films and workshops

The Bam hall will continuously be used for lectures and films. Peter van
Amstel will give a lecture on the Jew’s harp culture in South East Asia. The
lecture of José Pignocchi (Argentina) will be accompanied by a film about the
Trompa-Guajira an Indian Tribe in Venezuela that makes their own Jew’s harps.
Six workshops will be given in Studio 1, amongst others by Aron Szilagi
(Hungary) Jew’s harp for beginners and by Tran Quang Hai (Vietnam) Advanced
playing techniques and overtone chanting.

Activities for children

During the festival the Sound Garden will be open for the children. In the
unique Sound Garden children can play on various sound installations and also
attend a Jew’s harp & human beatbox workshop, organized by the Dutch duo Plunk.

Jew’s Harp Market

Every day during the festival there will be a market, where the participating
Jew’s harp builders from far away countries will demonstrate their various Jew’s
harp models. Combined with the workshops an ideal opportunity to purchase a
first Jew’s harp and get a short introduction on how to play this instrument.

Summer Stage

The festival will attract hundreds of musicians from all over the world.
Interesting musicians from Yakutia, America, Kyrgyzstan and Italy will perform
at the Summer Stage in the Entrance hall of the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. Free
admission.

FRIDAY JULY 28TH
15.00 hrs Grote Zaal opening Opening Festival – Phons Bakx with ensemble & a
‘surpise guest’
12.30 hrs Klankspeeltuin children workshops Jew’s harp & human beat box
16.00 hrs Atrium market Jew’s harp market
17.00 hrs Bam Zaal film Irian Jaya and Bali – Short films from Indonesia
19.30 hrs Bam Zaal lecture Peter van Amstel – The Jew’s harp in South East Asia
20.30 hrs Grote Zaal concert South East Asia, the cradle
23.00 hrs Grote Zaal concert Late Night Concert I – Tran Quang Hai and friends

SATURDAY JULY 29TH
10.00 hrs Studio I workshop John Palmes – Mouth Bow
10.00 hrs Bam Zaal lecture Fred Crane – Session of short lectures
11.30 hrs Studio I workshop Tran Quang Hai – Vietnamese Jew’s Harp
12.00 hrs Atrium marktet Jew’s harp market
12.00 hrs Entreehal Summer Stage Soloists and ensembles
12.30 hrs Klankspeeltuin children workshops Jew’s harp & human beat box
13.30 hrs Studio II workshop Steven Stoop – How to make a Jew’s harp
14.00 hrs Bam Zaal lecture José Pignocchi and a film about the “Trompa-Guajira

15.00 hrs Grote Zaal concert Shamanism & Folklore – Music from Scandinavia and
Siberia
15.30 hrs Bam Zaal film Film Irian Jaya and Bali – Short films from Indonesia

17.00 hrs Studio II workshop Steven Stoop – How to make a Jew’s harp
17.00 hrs Bam Zaal film Trumpi – Anton Bruhin travels to the far east
20.30 hrs Grote Zaal concert East meets West – A mix of Cultures
23.00 hrs Grote Zaal concert Late Night Concert II – Navrang

SUNDAY JULY 30TH
10.00 hrs Studio I workshop Spiridon Shishigin – Yakutian techniques
10.00 hrs Bam Zaal lecture Fred Crane – the Jew’s harp on 78 rpm records
11.00 hrs Grote Zaal concert The Jew’s harp as a classical instrument
11.30 hrs Studio I workshop Workshop by Aron Szilagyi – Jew’s harp for beginners
12.00 hrs Entreehal Summer Stage Soloists and ensembles
12.00 hrs Atrium marktet Jew’s harp market
13.00 hrs Bam Zaal lecture Valentina Süzükei – The Tuvan Jew’s harp
14.00 hrs Bam Zaal lecture Leo Tadagawa – Excavated Asian Jew’s Harps
15.00 hrs Bimhuis concert Contemporary Jew’s Harp – Oorbeek + Plunk + J.M. Nasim

15.30 hrs Bam Zaal film Film Trumpi – Anton Bruhin travels to the far east
17.00 hrs Bam Zaal film Spiridon Shishigin – Films by Gerd Conradt
20.30 hrs Grote Zaal concert Tradition versus renewal – America and Europe

For more information go to:
www.muziekgebouw.nl.