[Harp-L] Multiple stops



This whole discussion of multiple stops illustrates the way language changes and keeps changing. Words have different meanings for different people, and different people use different words for the same meaning.

Apparently "stops" in harp language refers to the tongue and edges of the lips, whereas with stringed instruments it's something the fingers do.

I gave up playing the harp 50 years ago when I had some major dental work done. Now I am trying to get back into it.

Actually, I never played the harp back then. What I played was a harmonica, aka "mouth organ." Back then, the vernacular referred to mouth organs and Jews harps (juice harps), and real organs (which you pumped in the parlor), pipe organs (which were grand instruments of another world -- never actually seen or heard), and, of course, real harps. Chord organs were a later invention.

An interesting permutation is that at a recent Christmas celebration, my 13 year old granddaughter and I played a few carols as a duet; I on my mouth organ and she on her folk harp. Both instruments are tuned to C. You might say we played a C-harp duet.

But if I said that to you without the explanation, what would YOU think it was?

Is this beginning to sound like, "I'm my own grand-paw?"

But wait, there's more. There is a parallel thread going on about the "first live recording" of the harp. Only thing is, I don't believe it was called a harp at that time. Any more than the World War was called World War I.

So my question is, what is the history of the terminology and its changes? What was the 10 hole, 20 reed diatonically played musical instrument called during the late 1800s and early 1900s? At what point did the slang term "mouth organ" become common? And what was the evolution of the terms: mouth harp, jazz harp, blues harp, and "harp" as we know it today?

Go ahead, pull out the stops.

BTW, isn't this an organ-player's term? I don't mean pull out multiple stops. Pull out ALL the stops.

Dave




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