Re: [Harp-L] "Baritone" chromatic

[Colin Fulton <justcolin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ok people look at this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basso scroll
down and there are pictures of each range as defined by the human
voice range. Infact there is no real definition of each one, for
instance, for singing basses there is basso baritone, which is basic
bass range but more high notes, and there is basso profondo (my
favorite) which is your ultra low. So there is middle C on the piano.
Tenor range is between that and the C around one octave bellow middle
C. If you move that range down an octave you have bass. Baritone is in
between these two. Contrabass ends on the C 3 octaves bellow middle C,
that is as low as Hohners "bass" harmonica's go. Then bellow that is
what I think is called Octocontrabass, which is just ridiculously low,
and there are names for the things under that, but they are so
incredibly low that you can just call them "frikken low" and if anyone
can make a harmonica that can go to octocontrabass or bellow, I would
buy it in a snap (if anyone from Seydel or Hohner or a custom harp
building is listening) There is no definites on this though, and alto
crosses over into soprano, tenor into alto, bass into tenor etc. (None
of these ranges are definite, it varies from instrument to instrument
they are just general names)

I hope that cleared things up a bit and didn't spark more discussion.


On 1/3/06, Jonathan R. Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> First, let's define some terms.  If we accept the pitch generally
> referred to as middle C as being the lowest note on a standard 48 or
> 12-hole chromatic in the key of C, then the correct term for the lowest
> note on a 64 or 16-hole chromatic would be tenor C.  The next octave
> below would be termed "baritone" C and below that again is bass C.
> Which brings us to this:
>
> http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.storefront/;Locale=en_GB?ObjectPa
> th=/Shops/Seydel/Products/51482/SubProducts/51482LC
>
> Note the following sentence:
>
> "Here our Low Chroms, exactly one Oktave below the 'Standard' tuning."
>
> Then there is this:
>
> http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/HE6148.html
>
> While both of these are called "Baritone" by name, they are the same
> range as what Hohner has traditionally (and correctly, IMO) called
> "tenor" tuning.  I have many tenor-tuned harmonicas, and for a 12-hole
> instrument I much prefer this range to the standard one.
>
> But, neither of these are in fact "baritone" tuned instruments according
> to the criteria Michael brought up: a chromatic tuned two octaves below
> middle C, ie, a chromatic tuned two octaves below the lowest note on a
> 48 in C or one octave below a 64 in C.  Both of the above harmonicas,
> despite their names, are still an octave too high in pitch to fit the
> criteria of a true "baritone" instrument as Michael, Winslow and myself
> (and others) have dreamed existed.
>
> It may be possible to make one with existing reed-plates, but I think
> the results would not be nearly as user-friendly as reeds, slots, covers
> and such purposely designed for this range.  I have several of the
> Seydel low-low-tuned diatonics, and as much as I enjoy them they are not
> the most easily playable of instruments.  Part of that, I would guess,
> is due to the fact that the reeds are being made to work at a pitch
> significantly lower than the ideal for the scale reed would predict.  If
> you had reeds scaled specifically for that range, rather than tuned down
> from standard, I would expect better performance.  (note--the Seydels
> are wonderful harps and if anyone wants to explore the truly low
> territory on a standard diatonic or just have some fun I highly
> recommend getting them)
>
> There are several companies out there right now which are rather
> adventurous in their pursuit of new markets and new designs.  Hering,
> Seydel and Suzuki have all shown a willingness to try new things to suit
> customer demand.  Hopefully some company will decide to give a
> purpose-built baritone chromatic a try, as I know I'd buy one in a
> second (indeed, that was the case when Suzuki made a purpose-built
> tremolo chromatic--I bought one as soon as I found a good source).
>
> BTW, Winslow is, as usual, correct in remembering that baritone-range
> Polyphonia as being model No. 7.  I know because I just checked mine.
> Wonderful instrument, but like all the Polyphonia models not the easiest
> to play much besides chromatic runs, IMO.
>
>
>
>
>  oo    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
> ()()   & Snuffy, too:)
> `--'
>
>
>
>
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