Talk: The Jews Harp and its Impact on Scottish Music by Michael Wright - King's College Conference Centre

The jews-harp is a distinctive musical instrument of international importance and yet it remains on these islands, like the ocarina, kazoo or even whistling or diddling, an instrument that sits beneath the established musical radar. With its origins in Asia, the jews-harp appears to have arrived relatively late into Europe, most evidence indicating around the twelfth century. By the beginning of the eighteen century, however, it was well established on the British Isles, particularly in Scotland.

This talk will explore how something with a generally low level of appreciation, is usually perceived as simple, a toy, or even has questions as to whether it is a musical instrument at all, has in fact great musicality, as significant a history and is as relevant to the musical culture of Scotland as any other.