French harp

Arnold M. Zwicky zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU
Tue May 23 15:20:51 UTC 2006


On May 23, 2006, at 8:08 AM, Dale Coye wrote:

> DARE tells us that a French harp can be either a harmonica in the
> W.Midlands
> (map shows it from Appalachia west to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri) or
> a jew's
> harp found infrequently from Alabama to Washington.

i'm familiar with "mouth harp" as a term for either of these
instruments.  for the latter i also know "juice harp" and "jaw
harp".  not long ago i saw/heard mike seeger play both instruments in
concert, but referring to the former just as a harmonica.

arnold

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