Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-15

fully that it attracted the attention OF the
monarch, who ut first thought he heard
distant orchestra. Surprised to learn
that such an effect could be produced by
single man with two jewsharps, he or
dered him into his presence; but the sol.
dier refused on account that he could
only be relieved by his colonel, and that
if he obeyed, the king would punish him
the next day for having failed in his duty.
The king, instead of being offended at
the answer, called the soldier to the cas-
tic the following morning, and having
heard Kock perform several pieces, dis
charged him from his service with gen
erous gift. Rocks success was entirely
due to his natural taste for the art, for he
had no knowledge of music. He made a
fortune by travelling and playing in priv
ate and public. Kock used two harps ut
once, and produced TIM harmony OF two
notes struck at the same moment, which
at that time was looked upon as some
thing extraordinary, considering the linn
tied power of the instrument. In order
that the illusion produced by his playing
should be greater, Kock always required
that the lights should be extinguished.
Kock afterwards settled in Vienna, where
he lived to the advanced age OF more than
eighty years.
1t was reserved, however, for Ger
man herdsman and laborer of the name
of Eulenstein to acquire great reputation
as player, after ten years study. He
appeared at concerts first i'll Parls, Ill
January, 1926, and in London, in June,
1926, where he executed Italian, French
and German airs, to the great admiration
of amateurs and professionals alike. lie
played with Mr.. Stockhausen, who nc
companied him on the pedal harp pianis-
simo, touching the chords lightly, so that
Mr.. Eulenstein's part could be perfectly
heard. The following is the result of his
discoveries concerning the jewsharp, and
by which he converted this meagre in
strument into one "of the most elegant,
harmonious and pleasing character" as n
critic of that time writes.
A iewsharp taken singly gives almost
any harmonic sound you wish to produce,
rs third, fifth and an octave. Ii the
grave tonic is not heard in the bass jew
sharp, it must be traced to the player,
but not to the effectiveness of the IN.
strument. The jewsharp has three differ
ent tones the bass tones of the first oc..
tave bear some resemblance to those OF
the flute and clarinet those of the mid
die and high to the vox humana stop OF
some organs lastly the harmonic sounds
are exactly like those of the harmonica.:
This diversity of tones can always afford
variety in the execution, but as in the
extent of these octaves there are num-
ber of spaces which cannot be filled up,
the most simple modulation is impossi'
BILE. Mr.. Eulenstein overcomes that IN
convenience by joining sixteen lewsharps
tuned by sealing wax, at the extremity OF
the tongue. Each harp then sounds one
of the notes of the scale, diatonic OF
chromatic, and the performer can fill al
the intervals, and pass all the tones by
changing the harp. That these muta'
tions may not interrupt the measure, one
harp must always be kept in advance, II
the same manner as o good reader ad
vances the eye, not upon the word whlcl
he pronounces, but upon that which fol
lows. The various sounds OF the jews
harp are obtained by the attraction an,
repression of mir, the current OF which
broken by the tongue of the instrument
The pressure of the lips, with the breath
serves to determine their gravity AM
acuteness. Consequently this little in
strument is very fatiguing to the lung
and perncious to the teeth, because 1t
application, when the tongue is put Il
motion, produces nearly the effect of tn
vibrations of n diapason pipe.
In the busy world of to-day, wher
there is no standing still for those, VIII
have something in view, and with tn
rapid progress and improvements we dali
meet with in the manufacture OF muslci
instruments, as well as in every othe
branch of industry, efforts are likel
/ soon to be made to develop the tone
the jewsharp by combination and cnlarg'
ment and more 80 would such an eifoi
| now repay its inventor, when there ~
, pears to be such demand for it. Wha
/ ever changes and improvements may TAX
- place hereafter concerning the iewsharl
: to Mr.. Eulenstein, the German herd
+ man and laborer of Wurtemburg, wi
n always be due the honor OF having bee
c the first one who, through continual e
y ercises of skill and attention, made
t possible for musical audience to deri'
: pleasure from listening to the perforl
\ ..nces on such humble instrument MS Il
iawahorp