I just rediscovered one of my long-lost pieces of talkover music - the Concerto for Jews Harp, by the Austrian composer Johann Georg Albrechstberger. From 1765 to 1771, Albrechstberger composed several concertos for Orchestra, Mandora (a lute-like instrument) and the Guimbarde, or what we now call the Jew's Harp. Albrechtsberger was initially inspired to compose these works by Austria's "music king," Joseph II who wrote enthusiastically about a Jew's Harp performance he heard in a monastery. Following these works, Albrechstberger went on to tutor a student named Ludwig van Beethoven in composition and counterpoint, and the Jew's Harp enjoyed a heyday in the courts of Europe at the start of the 19th century, with dozens of works written for the "Maultrommel," as it was known in Germany, the Crembalum (Latin), the Guimbarde (French) or the Italian "Aura."
Here are MP3s of two of Albrechstberger's Concertos for Jew's Harp, featuring Fritz Mayr on Jew's Harp, Dieter Kirsch on Mandora and the Munich Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Hans Stadlmair:
Concerto for Jew's Harp, Mandora and Orchestra in E Major
Tempo Moderato | Adagio | Finale - Tempo di Menuetto
Concerto for Jew's Harp, Mandora and Orchestra in F Major
Allegro Moderato | Andante | Menuetto - Moderato | Finale - Allegro Molto
For a completely different take on the Jew's Harp, check out Harvey Matusow's Jew's Harp Band.
I love those tracks. Would it be possible to include one in my podcast? www.electricsoupkitchen.com. Are they Public Domain and what's the deal with stealing stuff from WFMU?
P.S I already have you in my links section, keep up the outstanding work!
Posted by: Marcus | December 11, 2006 at 03:33 PM
oh man. this made my day. i laughed an honest laugh for sure.
Posted by: schlarb | December 12, 2006 at 01:34 AM
Where's the washboard and bathtub bass??
Posted by: Brent | December 12, 2006 at 05:36 PM
Thats as great as last years Rubber Band Christmas.
Posted by: Detroitsuperfly | December 12, 2006 at 07:09 PM
Good music, I don't find it funny. Nice usage of the traditional instrument.
Posted by: B | September 02, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Amazing!
Posted by: Elana | January 28, 2009 at 11:51 AM