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In 2006 I've made a CD
and handed it out at the
International Jew's harp Festival in Amsterdam.
One of these CD's ended up in Yakutsia.
A few years later I got an email
asking if I wanted to play in Moscow.
These are two obscure jew's harps to be used as gifts.
An electric jew's harp...
Loop Station...
sun glasses...
bass harmonica...
(my big pride)
and
a rattle from the german postal service.
This morning there was...
...a very long speach in russian...
...by the permanent representative of Yakutia,...
...who welcomed us.
Tran Quang Hai thanked him on behalf of us.
There are so many men and women in colorful outfits.
As you might have spotted them already.
It's all very solemn.
Today I'll be giving a workshop, although I am not sure what I will do yet.
Because it will be translated and I am not really sure what to say, but we will see.
The people here...
...all have a certain view on and knowledge of jew's harp music.
This makes me feel humble.
Now suddenly I'm amongst them.
In the Netherlands...
...people are easily impressed by what I do...
but here everyone already know's it's possible!
But in the end...
...it's all about making music.
So let's hope it's all about...
...the music.
Last minute the organisation decided...
...that I should use my Loop Station effect pedal...
...but they didn't have the right cable.
Then the presenter Pavel Kuzmin called some friends...
...asking if the could bring a cable.
My performance was delayed so much...
...that I ended up being some kind of headliner.
We were in a park, and it was raining endlessly...
...and we forgot to bring our umbrellas.
It was already pouring...
...when they started the opening ceremony.
People...
...were dancing on the grass...
...in exotic outfits.
After the ceremony I was part of the jury...
...of a jew's harp contest...
...together with the other international players.
Suddenly I could relate to the jury members of...
..."Holland's Got Talent".
After a while...
...it's hard to stay serious...
...but you try to keep...
...a straight face...
...and clap politely.
But that's very hard.
After the performances we were all invited to...
...the basement of a hotel.
The representative offered us a dinner...
...a table full of Yakut specialities.
We needed some time to adapt to the food.
At first...
...if you're not used to it...
...it looks a bit awkward.
There were speeches and toasts to our jew's harp friends. "Thank you for being here."
We were given a horse head...
...and a horse chest...
...wrapped up in cellophane!
Thirty seconds later the represantative had left.
This was his...
...generous...
...farewell gift.
I used to...
...look up to...
...a lot of other players.
Now I have the feeling...
...that I have something to add.
It makes me feel a bit more equal.
I still respect them a lot...
...and I will never be able to play like them...
...but I have found my own voice.