Khomus (Yakut Jew's Harp)
Metal Jew's harp of the Yakut (Sakha) people, an elongated iron frame with a flexible steel tongue, played by plucking the tongue while holding the frame to the teeth. The khomus imitates bird calls and natural sounds, accompanied songs and held shamanic associations. Yakutsk's Khomus Museum, the republic's Khomus Day and an international festival honour it as a symbol of Sakha culture. The player holds the frame against the teeth and strikes the tongue with a finger, shaping the note with the mouth and breath, so that a single harp produces a shifting range of overtones. The khomus is among t