As part of the concert series “Global Sound Stories – Accordion Meets Literature,” a special family gathering will take place on May 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The sheng, harmonica, jaw harp, and accordion will engage in a musical competition.

They will be accompanied by an entertaining fairy tale by author Thomas Sutter. A family concert at the Maschinenhaus in the Kulturbrauerei.

The poor harmonica. Too small, too insignificant, and simply not classical enough for the grand concert hall. Yet it longs so much for attention and envies its big siblings. In his text titled “When the Little Harmonica Met the Jew’s Harp,” Thomas Sutter stages a little squabble, as often happens in families. Entertaining, profound, and above all, with a loving gaze toward its heroes—all of them musical instruments. These are all featured in the concert and reveal their kinship: whether Chinese sheng, harmonica, jaw harp, or accordion—they are all harmonic instruments based on the principle of the vibrating reed.

Outstanding soloists will explain and demonstrate exactly what this means and how the instruments differ in this concert: Wu Wei (sheng), Sören Birke (harmonica, jaw harp), and Vincenzo “Titti” Castrini (accordion).

The concert takes place in cooperation with the Harmonica FEN Festival.

The musical-literary series “Global Sound Stories: Accordion Meets Literature” was initiated by the Landesmusikrat Berlin e.V. during the Year of the Accordion. It brings together musicians and writers of international stature on stage. The texts, written specifically for this series, interact with the music, raising questions about identity, tradition, and the meaning of community. The accordion, as an instrument of change and travel, serves as an anchor and a source of support.

We would like to thank the LOTTO Foundation Berlin for supporting the project “600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin” with the concert series “Global Sound Stories – Accordion Meets Literature.”