Michael Wright is Elected Vice-President of IJHS

Michael Wright was elected as Vice-President of the International Jew’s Harp Society at the Yakutsk Congress, with the renit to creat a working team to develop the Society’s future. “It’s quite a challenge,” said Michael, ” but I am confident that with the enthusiasm and commitment I have come across these past days, we can achieve much in the next two years.”

Galpin Society Journal Article Published

Michael Wright’s latest article ‘The Jew’s Harp in Colonial America’ has just been published in the Galpin Society Journal, March 2011, LXIV. During the 50 years from 1732 until the foundation of the United States of America, one tiny musical instrument found its way into every aspect of Colonial American life. It was regularly advertised by ironmongers in the new city presses and was even traded with Native Americans for furs. This is the second peer-reviewed article by Michael on this almost miss-able musical instrument that was imported from England and spread throughout the American Continent. For more information contact Michael (see Contacts Page).

Khomus Festival Invite

Michael and John Wright have been invited to the 7th International Jew’s Harp Congress “Khomus  in the cultural dimensions of the world”  in Namskiy, Khangalasskiy Ulus, Republic of Sakha-Yakutia. The khomus (as the Jew’s harp is known in the region) is one of their national musical instruments, hence the event being supported by their government and opened by the President. At the moment John and I will be representing the British and Irish (and French) musical traditions, with other participants invited from Austria, Sicily, Germany, Norway, Hungary the USA, Japan… the list gets longer daily, joining the regional players.

Michael Wright, Dogan Mehmet and Matt Quinn form new group

 

Inspired by their musical collaborations during the last two years, Michael Wright and Dogan Mehmet have been joined by Matt Quinn with a view to recording Michael’s first CD. The project is at it’s early stages and the objective is to show the variety of sounds and the musicality of Jew’s harp. More news as the project develops.

Article to be published by the Galpin Society in May 2011

 

After two years of preparation ‘The Jew’s Harp Trade in Colonial America’ by Michael Wright has been given a date of publication in the Galpin Society Journal. Using previously unpublished material, Michael looks at the evidence of European Jew’s harps in the fur trade as barter goods and the spread of the instrument throughout the Eastern Colonies through newspaper adverts from 1733 to 1783.

Michael Wright wins BNRA award

 

In recognition of the project for L’Ile d’Aix during 2010, Michael Wright was awarded the BNRA Chairman’s Award at the annual dinner held in November 2010. “I was truly astonished,” Michael remarked, “and feel this is a recognition of the teamwork that was essential in bringing the various elements of history and music that were integral to project.”

Napoleon’s Garden Concert

 

In January Michael Wright was asked to support an art exhibition proposed for L’Ile d’Aix off the western coast of France by creating in conjunction with the Britannia Naval Research Association (BNRA), a heritage trail on the islands historical links with the era of the 1^st Empire. This culminated in a concert with French performers Catherine Perrier and Claude Ribouillault in the garden of the Governor’s House where Napoleon spent his last three days on French soil.

The Wright Family perform as a group for the first time

 

In 2009 and 2010 Whitby Folk Week invited The Wright Family to perform and give workshops at the week-long festival. Performing in concerts gave the family their first opportunity to show the variety of music that until now has only been part of their family gatherings. This led to a number of bookings at other venues – though given the geographic spread of the family, they are relative few. Lucy, David and Michael at the Magpie’s Nest (Folk Club of the Year 2010) can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNd_Py43LmQ&feature=sub.

The Wright Family record a sampler

As part of her MA at the School of African and Oriental Studies, Lucy Wight arranged for the Wright family to record a number of Jew’s harp pieces which were made into a sampler. These recordings were picked up by BBC Radio’s ‘Late Junction’ and Ulster Radio’s ‘Folk club’ with Colum Sands.

Michael Wright is member of The Gillie Boys

Sam Lee (singer) invited Michael to work with him, Ed Hicks (banjo) and Dogan Mehmet (various string instruments and percussion) in a group that became the Gillie Boys. Working from the tradition, their arrangements allowed for a more experimental approach to the melodic, atmospheric and rhythmic use of the Jew’s harp. Performing at various festivals throughout the UK for two seasons an example of their playing at the Ballad of Britain.
The group disbanded in its original form at the end of the 2010 season.