The story behind Israel's Adler Trio and the harmonica started with serendipity. In 1960, when Chaim Adler went to a musical instrument shop in Haifa to buy one of his sons a chromatic harmonica, which is typically used for solos, the shop owner showed the father a bass and a chord harmonica too, which he had received due to a mistaken order. Chaim Adler returned home with all three harmonicas.

Chaim's son Danny picked up the chromatic harmonica and younger brother Dror swapped his accordion for the chord harmonica. In 1963, the brothers recruited music teacher Peretz Nadel to accompany them on the bass harmonica, and the first generation of the Adler Trio was born.

"And now, I'm still using the chord harmonica that my father bought from the shop," Dror told the Global Times ahead of the trio's first China concert at the Shanghai Concert Hall on October 29.

The first generation of the Adler Trio was formed in 1963. Photo: Courtesy of adlertrio.com

After undergoing a few lineup changes over the years - Danny retired in 1982 - Dror is now the most senior member of the Adler Trio's current incarnation. Jacob Kol, a former saxophonist, replaced Nadel as the bass harmonica in 1975 and Danny's daughter, Michal Adler, has been playing the chromatic harmonica for the trio since 2000.

"I'm also still using the chromatic harmonica that my father gave me as a present for my 14th birthday, which was just like the one his father bought for him from that shop in 1960," Michal said. "It is a 16-hole chromatic harmonica."

In a harmonica trio, the person who holds the chromatic harmonica is usually the trio's leader. "The chromatic harmonica is a full four octave instrument, and is the only wind instrument played not only by blowing, but also by drawing (inhaling)," Michal explained.

Dror added, "The chord harmonica gives the harmony, but is also responsible for the rhythmic effects which I produce using my tongue and throat. And the bass harmonica is the harmonica in the trio which is played only by blowing."

The Adler Trio is a household name in Israel, known mainly for their all-embracing repertoire ranging from classical to pop music, from soul, jazz and country to ethnic and world music.

However, Dror told the Global Times, "In the 1960s, when we founded the Adler Trio, in Israel the harmonica was just regarded as a toy and was never seriously treated."

The Adler Trio's current lineup: Dror Adler, Michal Adler and Jacob Kol. Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

"And at that time, I myself had never heard of a musical formation called a harmonica trio," he added.

After five decades, the trio still performs some of the pieces from their original repertoire, which have become their trademarks, including Aram Khachaturian's Sabre Dance and Ennio Morricone's theme from Sergio Leone's 1966 spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

"Since I joined the trio in 2000, I have tried to bring new spirits to the trio with the help of my husband, who started writing the trio's arrangements, focusing on original and world music," Michal said. She is married to Shlomo Gronich, a well-known pianist, singer and composer in Israel.

For their first Shanghai concert, the trio will play an original work by Gronich called Harmoni Cadence. "I think it is one of the most ambitious compositions ever composed for a harmonica trio. It takes the instrument to its limits. I am very excited every time I play it," Michal added.

As well as this original piece, they will perform a Hasidic Jewish medley, traditional ethnic music that originated from Eastern Europe.

Dror explained, "These happy melodies used to be played at Jewish weddings and other celebrations. Since the origin is Eastern Europe, there is a noticeable influence of Gypsy music. Usually this music is played on the clarinet, which makes it a great challenge to play on the harmonica."

Classical works on the trio's Shanghai program include Strauss's Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Shostakovich's Waltz No.2, Offenbach's can-can tune The Infernal Galop, and the overture to Rossini's opera William Tell. In addition, they will perform ethnic music from Brazil, Greek and Ireland.

"We also chose two traditional melodies from China, Rose, Rose I Love You and The Suzhou Riverside, and adapted them for harmonica playing," Dror said, "because we liked the melodies and we thought we can give the Chinese audience a nice interpretation with the harmonicas."

The trio celebrated their 50th anniversary in the spring of 2013. After so many years of touring, Dror told the Global Times he has discovered that the popularity of the harmonica in the West has declined over the years. "But it is very popular in the East. We were very happy to see so many harmonica players in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore. We have not yet performed on the Chinese mainland but we heard there are many millions of harmonica players here."

Date: October 29, 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall

上海音乐厅

Address: 523 Yan'an Road East

延安东路523号

Tickets: 50, 100, 150, 200 yuan

Call 400-8918-182 for details