Musical Instrument Gallery Talk and Demonstration

Local performer Thomas Zajac will talk about the history and playing technique of Jew’s harps (or jaw harps), which are found in many parts of the world. This unusual instrument has a single prong that is plucked, the tone then amplified and modulated inside the player’s mouth cavity. Jew’s harps are made from varying materials, as will be revealed by numerous examples in the MFA’s collection, including ones from England, China, Afghanistan, and Papua New Guinea. Zajac will demonstrate various instruments from his own collection.