Images(2)

Honto

Alternate name(s)

Plucked lamellaphone

Date1973 ca.

Place MadeKarafu, Papua New Guinea, Asia

Serial No.none

DescriptionThe Jew’s Harp is found throughout Papua New Guinea, and the method of using a string or piece of cloth to make the lamella vibrate seems to be fairly universal across New Guinea as well. As the string is being pulled, the opposite, pointed end is held in the player’s mouth and the vibrations of the lamella are altered with the shape of the mouth and placement of the tongue or larynx.
A number of different sources comment on the pitches produced. They point toward the instrument’s ability to produce pitches in the harmonic series of the fundamental, with perhaps a bit of deviation. According to Grove Music Online, the Jew’s Harp produces a fixed pitch “rich in overtones which correspond closely to a harmonic series” (Wright). In an article by Ledang, she states that “The instrument by itself is capable of creating a rich harmonic spectrum which is only modified by alterations of the mouth cavity (the resonator) during playing”. In his article, Hymann confirms that the Jew’s Harp can produce the overtones of the harmonic series, with “the ability to cheat out a few extra notes”.
The origin of the name Jew’s Harp is unknown, but probably has no connection to people of Jewish descent. There are a number of sources that address the question. For example, an article on the history of the Jew’s Harp can be found on the website of the Jew’s Harp Guild. The Guild also stated that they would continue to use the name Jew’s Harp, since there doesn’t seem to be any negative connotations associated with it, and because it is still the most common term in use. Another article by Harold Steafel also addresses the question. (see Steafel, Harold. “Jew’s Harp”. The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 29. (May, 1976), pp. 122-123. Accessed through JSTOR, 21 June 2007.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00720127%28197605%2929%3C122%3AJH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M ).
There is controversy regarding the classification of the Jew’s Harp. Under the Sachs/Hornbostel system, it is a plucked idiophone. However, Frederick Crane (from whom the instrument was purchased) and Ola Kai Ledang have published articles arguing for its classification as an aerophone. See “Sources Consulted”.
In Papua New Guinea, the Jew’s Harp is usually played for entertainment. It is also played during courting, when it is used to transmit subtle messages. Sometimes it can be used to imitate sounds in nature, most often bird calls. This particular instrument originates from the town of Karafu in the Eastern Highlands Province, where Kafe is the local dialect. It’s place of origin is very close to that of NMM 1439, a town where Kafe is also spoken. The dealer stated that this instrument is called “Hondo” in Kafe, although it also appears to be known as “Honto” (see name for NMM 1439 and definition in Kamano-Kafe dictionary, “Kamano-Kafe”. Online Kamano/Kafe dictionary, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Papua New Guinea. Accessed 1 July 2007.). According to Chenowith, in this region the Jew’s Harp is played by boys and young men to disguise intimate conversation during courting. It may also be played to imitate bird calls.

Instrument is constructed from a hollow, cylindrical bamboo tube. The top end is closed at the node. The front of the tube is cut into a double-armed frame with a lamella, or tongue, that lays between the arms. It is idioglottic, meaning the lamella is carved from the tube itself, not attached separately. There are visible carving marks where the tongue is attached to the frame. The end of the tube, opposite from the node, tapers into a point, with the arms of the frame extending slightly longer than the tongue. The tips of the frame and lamella are open, not tied together.
The majority of the back part of the tube is cut away so that the main body of the instrument consists of the frame and lamella. Just below the node, a few millimeters of cylindrical tube remains. The back part of the frame is cut just below this section, in a chevron shape.
The cylindrical tube continues for a few centimeters above the node. There is a small hole at the front, just above the node, with four thin pieces of string strung through and knotted at the back.
DimensionsLength: 21 cm
Circumference at the node: 7 cm
Length of strings: 17 cm
ProvenanceCollected by Karl Stroder

Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 1976

Object number01442

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