Release of IJHS Journal #8
We are pleased to announce the publication of Volume 8 of the Journal of the International Jew's Harp Society!
This issue is available in a very limited print edition at the 10th International Jew's Harp Congress & Festival in Akanko Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido (October 24–26, 2025). The digital edition is now accessible to all Society members on our website.
How to access the journal
Membership in the International Jew's Harp Society provides access to all past publications, including every issue of our Journal and its predecessor, VIM. If you are not yet a member, join now to receive your login credentials. https://jewsharpsociety.org/joining (NEW: if you live in EU, please use SEPA money transfer to save fees).
Proposals & contributions to the IJHS Journal
We welcome submissions of research articles, reviews, or news related to the jew's harp. If you have contributions to share, we encourage you to contact our editorial team at editorial@jewsharpsociety.org. Your participation helps enrich our community.
Articles and reviews featured in Volume 8
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR by Harm J. Linsen
Two words of introduction by our current Journal's Editor
A CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL WRIGHT, by Harm J. Linsen & Alessandro Zolt
A personal, professional and musical chit-chat with Michael, our former Journal's editor
BOOK REVIEW: SIXTY THREE MELODIC EXERCISES FOR THE JAW HARP, MARK GROWDEN, by Bernhard Folkestad
THE JEW’S HARP IN SWEDEN — A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW, by Klas Wikström af Edholm
A throrough exposition about the past and present of the instrument in Sweden, something still to discover!
ALBUM REVIEW: EN URKRAFT I RÖRELSE, KLAS OCH ANDREAS, by Harm J. Linsen
ARTICLE REVIEW: ON THE JEW’S HARP IN SICILY: A FIRST CONTRIBUTION, LUCA RECUPERO, by Harm J. Linsen
INTRODUCTION OF THE MONGOLIAN JEW’S HARP CENTER, by Ayush Munkhchimeg
Informations about cultural and musical activities, festival participation and cooperation with fellow jew's harp associations and artists from abroad in Mongolia
BOOK REVIEW: JAW HARP EXCAVATING, WAYLAND HARMAN, by Harm J. Linsen
ALBUM REVIEW: QUARTETTO AREASUD – MUSICA LIEVEMENTE TRADIZIONALE / LIGHTLY TRADITIONAL MUSIC (2021), by Alessandro Zolt
TRADITIONS AND CULTURE OF THE JAW HARP IN SLOVAKIA, by Erik Turtev
An introduction to the rich culture surrounding the history of the instrument and the contemporary revival in the central European country of Slovakia
TRONPA: THE JEW’S HARP IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY, by Juan Mari Beltran Argiñena
Another still unknown part of European jew's harp history and traditions is unveiled through the studies and research of Basque ethnomusicologist J. M. Beltran
RUWENGE, AFRICAN, INDIGENOUS BUT NOT A JEW’S HARP., by Harm J. Linsen
Some light is finally shed on an African instrument often assimilated to the jew's harp, revealing a much more complex reality
BOOK REVIEW: TRUMPS (JEWS HARPS), BY JEREMY MONTAGU, by Alessandro Zolt
“TROMBA MONTEMARANESE” (1974) – A TRADITIONAL JEW’S HARP MELODY FROM SOUTH ITALY, by Lorenzo D'Erasmo & Alessandro Zolt
The first of a series to be continued in our next issues: an example from the vast and precious heritage of historical jew's harp recordings from all over the world is historically and musically analysed and its music shared for players to relive!
SHEET MUSIC: TROMBA MONTEMARANESE, transcription by Lorenzo D'Erasmo
JEW’S HARPS AND METAL MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD, by Owen Coggins and Deirdre Morgan
The summary of an exciting upcoming book about the use of the jew's harp in Metal music is presented by the Authors
BONE JAW HARPS AND BLANKS THEREOF OF THE HUN-SARMATIAN TIME IN NORTHERN ALTAI, by A.P. Borodovskiy
A detailed analysis of a recent archaeological discovery made in Siberia that was also reported by the mainstream media
THE GYPSIES’ TRUMPET AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRODUCTION OF JEW’S HARPS BY GYPSY BLACKSMITHS IN SOUTHERN ITALY, by Ada Salvato
The fascinating exposition of a still living ancient tradition in the continental part of South Italy
