By Yvonne T
KUCHING, June 20: The rhythmic twang of a jaw-harp and the soulful hum of a Blues harmonica turned heads and drew a curious crowd on the first day of the Rainforest World Music Festival 2025, as a group of foreigners delivered a spontaneous and captivating performance on the grounds of the festival.
Whilst weaving through a throng of festival goers, many were stopped in their tracks by the unusual sounds of the Đàn môi, a traditional jaw-harp from Vietnam, played alongside the deeply expressive tones of a German-made Blues harmonica.
The Đàn môi jaw-harp instrument, brought all the way from Vietnam, by 29-year-old Antone Berteau from France, is the traditional jaw harp of the Meo (Hmung) people of Vietnam, according ASZA.com.
Crafted from thin brass and stored in a bright, fabric-covered case, its sound is surprisingly modern, with its twangs often likened to analog synthesizers, yet completely acoustic.
In contrast to the widely known conventional Jaw harps, the Vietnamese jaw harp is not pressed against the teeth, but only needs to be placed against the lips.
“I brought this from Vietnam, sometime this year,” Antone said.
“You see, it’s unlike any jaw-harp, the sound goes through you jaw but you use your tongue and your throat to form the sounds,” Antone shared.
Joining him was 69-year-old Mark Fisher, a retired engineer from Australia, who played the Blues harmonica. “This one’s a German-made harmonica,” he explained. “It’s the kind popularised by African American musicians.”
The duo, along with a few friends, had come to Sarawak to soak in the music and cultural richness of the festival. Their impromptu performance, held casually among the crowd, echoed the global spirit of the Rainforest World Music Festival, celebrating musical traditions from all corners of the world. — DayakDaily
