Masterclass: The World of Jew’s Harp with Fabio Tricomi (Sicily), Albin Paulus (Austria) and Steev Kindwald (USA/JAP)
The MWF retreat at Femminamorta will be an opportunity to study in depth the traditional techniques and repertoires on jew’s harps used in different regions and musical cultures of the world, thanks to the presence of three great masters musicians and researchers, carriers of different techniques and approaches studied within several musical cultures in which the jew’s harps play a vital role:
The tradition of marranzanu in Sicily with Fabio Tricomi
The alpine traditions of maultrommel with Albin Paulus
Traditional jew’s harps and double flutes from Rajasthan to Indonesia with Steev Kindwald
The tradition of marranzanu in Sicily with Fabio Tricomi
In order to deepen the traditional technique of marranzanu in Sicily the master Fabio Tricomi returns to the MWF. Researcher and multi-instrumentalist from Catania but resident for years in Bologna, his pioneering research into the construction and repertoire of marranzanu ensured the continuity of tradition at the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Not thanks to publications (his research is in fact almost entirely unpublished), but above all thanks to a work of oral dissemination through courses and laboratories held throughout the world.
The workshop will explore the techniques and styles of the jew’s harp in Sicily, starting from the correct posture, coordination between diaphragmatic breath, glottis and tongue pinch, Then selection of harmonics and finally traditional ways of accompaniment to the voice and solo repertoire. Not last will be the analysis of the instrument itself, what characterizes the Sicilian models and the narration about its making and the traditional players he encountered.
The alpine traditions of maultrommel with Albin Paulus
The multi-instrumentalist and composer Albin Paulus is a multifaceted artist who can boast recordings and collaborations ranging from classical music to vocal experimentation, from traditional music alpine jodel to jazz and world music. At the MWF, he is known above all for his unrivaled mastery and virtuosity in alpine techniques for jew’s harps, which involve the alternation of different instruments to accurately perform diatonic and chromatic melodies.
From Mozart to techno!
In Austria, the Jew’s Harp has played an important role for centuries, especially in traditional music, but also in classical music! Several compositions for this instrument date back to the 18th century, for example, the Concertos for Jew’s Harp and Strings by Johann Georg Albrechtsberger – a friend of Mozart and Beethoven’s composition teacher. In 2012, Alpine Jew’s Harp playing was therefore declared an Intangible Heritage of UNESCO.
To create clear melodies and a bass line simultaneously, both traditional music and classical music use several differently tuned Jew’s Harps in rapid alternation – at least two, but also four, five, and even more! And that’s exactly what we’ll learn in this course.
Playing a single Jew’s Harp is also widespread in Austria. In addition to playing melodies and mastering overtones precisely, I would like to show my very own personal style: this includes some gimmicks/tricks for a “pseudo-electronic” techno playing and the simultaneous use of my own voice, more specifically yodeling and overtone singing.
Traditional jew’s harps and double flutes from Rajasthan to Indonesia with Steev Kindwald
Born in the south of the USA into a family with multiple descendants from Transylvania, Scotland, Wales, England, Russia, and Austria, Steev Kindwald has dedicated more than 20 years to research trips on traditional music from different regions of Asia, and currently resides in Japan. His in-depth study of the traditions of the nomadic peoples of Rajasthan makes him one of the most recognized masters of morchang and alghoza, the typical double flutes with circular breathing.
His masterclass will cover a number of topics and repertoires:
• Morchang and jew’s harps of Rajasthan and West India
• Genggong, karinding, kubing and other bamboo harps from Indonesia and Papua
• Rhythm 4 Everyone! Introduction to odd beats and rhythms in 5, 7, 9, 10 , 11, 12, 17, 18
• Alghoza/Satara – Introduction to the Sindhi and Balochi double flutes
INFO & SCHEDULE
The Jew’s Harp Masterclass includes three group lessons daily, taught by different instructors.
Additional small group sessions may be scheduled by the teachers, based on a personalized teaching approach developed with the participants.
PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL LESSONS can be requested via email. Feel free to contact us for any questions or additional information: retreat.mwf@gmail.com
The masterclass may, at the instructors’ discretion, include a short final performance by the students during the concert on Saturday, August 16, as a way to share the work developed.
SCHEDULE
WED 13/08
9:30 FABIO TRICOMI
11:00 ALBIN PAULUS
16:00 STEEV KINDWALD
THU 14/08
9:30 ALBIN PAULUS
11:00 STEEV KINDWALD
16:00 FABIO TRICOMI
FRI 15/08
9:30 STEEV KINDWALD
11:00 FABIO TRICOMI
16:00 ALBIN PAULUS
SAT 16/08
9:30 FABIO TRICOMI
11:00 ALBIN PAULUS
16:00 STEEV KINDWALD
For those who wish to attend the masterclasses without taking part in the full residential retreat, from July 30 it will be possible to book the masterclasses only. You may choose to attend the full 4-day course or single lessons.
Single lesson: €30
4-lesson package: €100
Full course: €200 (up to 3 daily lessons)
Note: The “JUST the MASTERCLASS” option does not include access to the venue outside class times, nor participation in the shared meals at Femminamorta. To join the full retreat, please refer to the PASS options.
