Jew's Harp
Not on view
The Maori jew's harp (rooria or kukau) is used, like the musical bow in other parts of Polynesia and Melanesia, to simulate lover's speech. Made of flexible bamboo; it is held against the teeth while the split tongue is plucked. Changes of timbre occur as the player alters the formation of his mouth cavity; thus, the rooria can imitate speech patterns. The quiet sound is sometimes accompanied by guttural voiced tones.
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