ABSTRACT
In common with a number of other instruments such as the theremin and the accordion, the jews-harp does not feature as part of the Ark of Civilization. There has been a fascination with the jews-harp's acoustic properties, which when looked at in depth provide a description of the subtle nuance of the sound. Tracing the jews-harp's availability reveals a complex story of making and trading that had an impact far beyond the shores of the British Isles. Manufacturing techniques provided shapes of frame from the basic to the bizarre, while still retaining some degree of musicality. The instrument's enigmatic musical quality has inspired traditional stories; its musicality has been noted in trials; and songs have been written, most mentioning the jews-harp in passing, but at least one from Ireland was written specifically about the jews-harp.
