Jew's Harp - Wikipedia

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Jew's harp (kouxian) from the Taosi site in Shanxi, China, dated to around 2000 BCE
 
Angel playing a Jew's harp at the Minstrels' Gallery at Exeter Cathedral, 13th/14th century
 
Young Man with joodse harp by Dirck van Baburen, 1621

The oldest Jew's harps were discovered in Shaanxi, China, dating back about 4,000 years ago. They were from the Neolithic site of Shimao, an important political and religious center during the Longshan culture.[2][3] The earliest depiction of somebody playing what seems to be a Jew's harp is a Chinese drawing from the 3rd century BCE.[6] Archaeological finds of surviving examples in Europe have been claimed to be almost as old, but those dates have been challenged both on the grounds of excavation techniques, and the lack of contemporary writing or pictures mentioning the instrument.

Although this instrument is used by lackeys and people of the lower class, this does not mean it is not worthy of consideration by better minds ... The trump is grasped while its extremity is placed between the teeth in order to play it and make it sound ... Now one may strike the tongue with the index finger in two ways, i.e., by lifting it or lowering it: but it is easier to strike it by raising it, which is why the extremity, C, is slightly curved, so that the finger is not injured ... Many people play this instrument. When the tongue is made to vibrate, a buzzing is heard which imitates that of bees, wasps, and flies ... [if one uses] several Jew's harps of various sizes, a curious harmony is produced.

— Marin Mersenne, Harmonie Universelle (1636)[7]

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