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.

International Jew’s Harp Society elects new Board

 

The IJHS elected a new Board at the International Jew’s Harp Congress and Festival held in Amsterdam, July 2006. Michael Wright and Philippe Dallais were asked to take on the roles of General Secretary and Treasurer respectively, joining Honorary President, Frederick Crane, and President, Franz Kumpl, as officers of the Society. For further information on the important global community promoting the worldwide players, researchers and makers of the Jew’s harp, see the IJHS webpage.

The Islands of the North Atlantic Jew’s Harp Association (IoNAJHA) was formed at the Whitby Folk Week, 2006.

 

The first UK & Ireland association dedicated to the Jew’s harp was formed at the 2006 Whitby Folk Week. The Islands of the North Atlantic Jew’s Harp Association (IoNAJHA) is a free, virtual society communicating almost exclusively by email. IoNAJHA is set up to…

Promote the Jew’s harp in England, Ireland Scotland and Wales
Share information
Raise the standard of playing
Encourage research and its publication
Run workshops, events and occasional conferences / festivals
Give talks
Produce an occasional newsletter

For further information see the IoNAJHA web page.

Michael Wright was elected as Chair of the English Folk Dance and Song Society in December, 2005.

 

While not directly related to the study or playing of the Jew’s harp, becoming Chair of the National body for the promotion of English culture will, by its very nature, provide opportunities for the promotion of this underrated musical instrument.

“There is much to do, but having been on the National Council for the last three years, I am confident the new Council will work as a team to bring English cultural traditions to a greater audience than it has at the present.”