Morsing/Morchang

beebah · Nov 28th, 2005, 16:37

After picking one up a few years ago I have fallen in love with this Indian jews harp and play it along with the other percussion that I learn. I'm in Jaipur studing Hindi at the moment and I was hoping to find a maker from whom I could purchase a fair number of these instrumets from.
Does anybody know of any makers In Rajasthan (where it's known as morchang) or South India (where I believe it's called morsing) or any good music shops that might stock a range of pitches?
Also, as I'm sure this forum gets a pretty broad readership, does anybody actually play this instrument, properly or improperly?

Nick-H · Nov 28th, 2005, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by beebah

... ... ...
Also, as I'm sure this forum gets a pretty broad readership, does anybody actually play this instrument, properly or improperly?

me me me!

Hey, this is Indiamike... there had to be someone!

Here is my webpage on the instrument.

Yes, you can get them from the music shops here in Chennai, like Saptaswara or SrutiLaya, both in Royapettah High Street; they should have all the pitches, but stocks vary, and you have to try each instrument individually to check the quality (or otherwise).

I used to have over one hundred back in London, but when I shifted to Chennai I kept only my carefuly selected and tuned 'concert box'. If I ever get to Rajastan I'd love to see and compare: the instruments, apparently, look the same, but are they the same to play?

There is a TWO HOUR radio program of Jews Harp music from all around the world somewhere on the net ...I'll have to see if I can find the URL and post it.

Digital Drifter · Nov 28th, 2005, 17:31

The internet never ceases to amaze!

Of all the interactions possible for an instrument most indians themselves wouldn't recognize and that too a region specific instrument(until I saw that it's also there in Rajashtan), the moment beebah mentions morsing maaaan.....

Nick is pretty delirious, I guess.

beebah, expect love letters over this topic! you just found your soulmate.

Nick-H · Nov 28th, 2005, 23:15

OK, fans of Morsing, Morchang and the many other worldwide incarnations of the 'Jews Harp', try this here

beebah · Dec 3rd, 2005, 20:48

I'm really glad to have found someone who enjoys this instrument as much as me! In fact I have come across Nick while scouring the internet for more information, first in posts on dedicateed jew's harp forums - you gave soem very useful reccomendations for recordings and info about pitches and also mridangam.com - cool website name!

I don't know much about Karnatak music, I took course last year in Indian classical music which only allotted two weeks to it, but I'm interested in finding out more. especially after seeing the website Nick reccommended in another thread. I'm plannign to visit a friend in Bangalore over the christmas break - do you, Nick or anyone else for that matter, know if there is a similar cultural scene for thjis music there too? Ie do you thn I could find a good maker or shop?

Nick-H · Dec 3rd, 2005, 23:47

I know a number of musicians that come from Bangalore, and I guess there is music played there, and maybe an instrument shop, but I've never been. That might change next year as I have a couple of invites (one from a Ghatam player).

Bangaloreans?

Bigzero · Dec 4th, 2005, 00:05

nick, that is a wonderful website! never knew you had one! Very informative!

an uncle of mine had bought a morsing home one day when i was a kid. I had attempted to play it with somewhat disastrous results... i think my tongue touched the morsing or something

Nick-H · Dec 4th, 2005, 00:16

Glad you liked it! It is listed on my profile, but I guess we don't often look at profiles unless for something specific.

It is rather old: hasn't been touched for nearly three years.

Morsing players will tell you that you can cut the tip of your tongue off. Might be true, or we might just be trying to reduce the competition. I make no comment

. I have cut my lip once or twice, and even got a blister on my finger!

beebah · Dec 5th, 2005, 12:22

I use my lips to getstops in teh sound and a couple of times when I've been playing with amplified instruments my lip has started bleeding and I realise that I'm spraying blood everywhere!

beebah · Dec 12th, 2005, 16:54

I finally got round to going to a computer with audio and had a chance to listen to the programme - it's great! I know one other enthusiast who's more into the siberian type and he'll be thrilld with all teh variety.. wow!

After I read your reccomendation Nick, I hunted down teh Karnataka college of percussions album "river yamuna" it's only available online at emusic.com - whre you get a certain amount of free downloads by teh way, well worth it as they have an interesting selction of world music aswell as yer pop-rock usuals. This album has a fantastic morsing trio, probably the best thing on the album.
I'm still searching for the other reccommendation -master musicians of india or something, on King records.

Nick - i'm plannig on being in Chennai just after christmas are there any programmes you'd reccomend as regards percussion?
I had a look through Kutcheribuzz.com and picked out shashank, who I saw perfom at the bhavan in london over the summerand teh heart beat ensemble aswell as the only north indian music I could recognize! So what's your pick?
Or anyone else's for that matter!

Nick-H · Dec 13th, 2005, 16:32

Oh yes, River Yamuna.... a great Intro to Carnatic Music

Got some nice stuff on it. I've always wanted to a do a morsing group like that trio but never got around to it. I'm particularly fond of the konnokol on that CD, and the vocalist is great.

I was talking about Shashank's summer Bhavan appearance only yesterday! With Shashank! I was not there, of course as I was here. I've only heard him play one small private concert, but look forward to hearing a full program soon.

Nov 28th, 2005, 16:37	#1
beebah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: london/india Posts: 124	Morsing/Morchang After picking one up a few years ago I have fallen in love with this Indian jews harp and play it along with the other percussion that I learn. I'm in Jaipur studing Hindi at the moment and I was hoping to find a maker from whom I could purchase a fair number of these instrumets from. Does anybody know of any makers In Rajasthan (where it's known as morchang) or South India (where I believe it's called morsing) or any good music shops that might stock a range of pitches? Also, as I'm sure this forum gets a pretty broad readership, does anybody actually play this instrument, properly or improperly?

Nov 28th, 2005, 17:31	#3
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	The internet never ceases to amaze! Of all the interactions possible for an instrument most indians themselves wouldn't recognize and that too a region specific instrument(until I saw that it's also there in Rajashtan), the moment beebah mentions morsing maaaan..... Nick is pretty delirious, I guess. beebah, expect love letters over this topic! you just found your soulmate. __________________ Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF

Dec 4th, 2005, 00:05	#7
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,483	nick, that is a wonderful website! never knew you had one! Very informative! an uncle of mine had bought a morsing home one day when i was a kid. I had attempted to play it with somewhat disastrous results... i think my tongue touched the morsing or something __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Dec 12th, 2005, 16:54	#10
beebah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: london/india Posts: 124	chennai dec 2005 I finally got round to going to a computer with audio and had a chance to listen to the programme - it's great! I know one other enthusiast who's more into the siberian type and he'll be thrilld with all teh variety.. wow! After I read your reccomendation Nick, I hunted down teh Karnataka college of percussions album "river yamuna" it's only available online at emusic.com - whre you get a certain amount of free downloads by teh way, well worth it as they have an interesting selction of world music aswell as yer pop-rock usuals. This album has a fantastic morsing trio, probably the best thing on the album. I'm still searching for the other reccommendation -master musicians of india or something, on King records. Nick - i'm plannig on being in Chennai just after christmas are there any programmes you'd reccomend as regards percussion? I had a look through Kutcheribuzz.com and picked out shashank, who I saw perfom at the bhavan in london over the summerand teh heart beat ensemble aswell as the only north indian music I could recognize! So what's your pick? Or anyone else's for that matter!

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Nov 28th, 2005, 23:15	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,432	OK, fans of Morsing, Morchang and the many other worldwide incarnations of the 'Jews Harp', try this here

Dec 3rd, 2005, 20:48	#5
beebah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: london/india Posts: 124	I'm really glad to have found someone who enjoys this instrument as much as me! In fact I have come across Nick while scouring the internet for more information, first in posts on dedicateed jew's harp forums - you gave soem very useful reccomendations for recordings and info about pitches and also mridangam.com - cool website name! I don't know much about Karnatak music, I took course last year in Indian classical music which only allotted two weeks to it, but I'm interested in finding out more. especially after seeing the website Nick reccommended in another thread. I'm plannign to visit a friend in Bangalore over the christmas break - do you, Nick or anyone else for that matter, know if there is a similar cultural scene for thjis music there too? Ie do you thn I could find a good maker or shop?

Dec 3rd, 2005, 23:47	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,432	I know a number of musicians that come from Bangalore, and I guess there is music played there, and maybe an instrument shop, but I've never been. That might change next year as I have a couple of invites (one from a Ghatam player). Bangaloreans?

Dec 4th, 2005, 00:16	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,432	Glad you liked it! It is listed on my profile, but I guess we don't often look at profiles unless for something specific. It is rather old: hasn't been touched for nearly three years. Morsing players will tell you that you can cut the tip of your tongue off. Might be true, or we might just be trying to reduce the competition. I make no comment . I have cut my lip once or twice, and even got a blister on my finger!

Dec 5th, 2005, 12:22	#9
beebah Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: london/india Posts: 124	I use my lips to getstops in teh sound and a couple of times when I've been playing with amplified instruments my lip has started bleeding and I realise that I'm spraying blood everywhere!

Dec 13th, 2005, 16:32	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,432	Oh yes, River Yamuna.... a great Intro to Carnatic Music Got some nice stuff on it. I've always wanted to a do a morsing group like that trio but never got around to it. I'm particularly fond of the konnokol on that CD, and the vocalist is great. I was talking about Shashank's summer Bhavan appearance only yesterday! With Shashank! I was not there, of course as I was here. I've only heard him play one small private concert, but look forward to hearing a full program soon.

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