[Harp-L] Was: Mexican Revolution anfd US Civil War/Latin American harmonica

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is certainly not Mexican, but it is a rare example of the harmonica
in traditional Latin American music, in this case the Dominican
Republic, which is a part of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares
with the Republic of Haiti.
 I would tend to assume that music from this part of the world would
have more in common stylistically with that of Trinidad & Jamaica, but
it really sounds 'Latin American' to my ears.
This is the 'Trio Haragua' playing 'Il Commissario'  recorded in the
early sixties.
I have posted this reference before, but it seemed appropriate here to
mention it again.
You can hear it on the website http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/SM on the
programme for June 5, 2001 titled '78s in the 1960s'.
The above track occurs at 19.57 minutes. It is great playing and really
worth a listen. There is an accordion on this track, but the harp is the
featured instrument.
Also in the same bracket of tunes is a number from Brazil by a group
whose name I couldn't catch. There is limited use of the harmonica,
which is heard at the beginning and towards the end of the tune. It
sounds more like flute or pan-pipes. This occurs at 14.22 minutes.
RD

>>> victorio montes silva <silvaharp@xxxxxxxxxxx> 15/11/2007 11:39 >>>

SILVA
INICIATIVA PARA LA PRESERVACIÃN, OPTIMIZACIÃN Y EL ESTUDIO CIENTIFICO
DE LA ARMÃNICA DIATÃNICA
2007
http://youtube.com/user/silvaharp 

http://silvaharp.spaces.live.com/ 

http://www.myspace.com/victoriomontessilva 



These are very interesting reflections, consult to pat missin on this
subject and I commented on the wave of German immigrants,i am talking
about the possibility that the harmonica reached mexico with them, with
the information you have provided me, I was able to establish the
existence of harmonica during the Mexican Revolution, the text of Harmut
Berghoff, as reference gave Winslow Yerxa, establishing the arrival of
the harmonicas hohner, at the hands of Alfred Veerkamp in the year of
1908, this is two years before the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution.

The year that occupies my research is that of 1914, and for these dates
and is fair to say that the revolutionaries and brought harmonicas in
their pockets.

The revolutionary image of a harmonica this very widespread in mexico,
there may even be graphic works that show this scene, for example, a
woodblock print of Leopoldo Mendez, in the year 1929, in this engraving
can see a revolutionary sitting on some train routes, playing the
harmonica.

Thanks to all, I really have very valuable information, and if you are
in agreement with much joy agregare their names in the end credits of my
research.


Atte.
Victorio Montes Silva
04455 1681-5162


> Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:24:40 -0500
> From: mwewers@xxxxxxxxxx 
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Subject: [Harp-L] Mexican Revolution anfd US Civil War
>
> Here is some further data for thought with respect to harmonica
history in the US and Mexico.
>
> Before Hohner's mass production process was able to capture and
satisify the US market, harmonica's were handcrafted and by 1829, they
were produced by the W. Thei Co. in Austria and the Hotz Co. in Germany.
Since 1776, more than 7 million Germans left their country for the US.
Another source states that 6 million of them came between 1841 and 1913.
Martin Haeffner has 200,000 Germans leaving Baden and Wuertenberg
between 1850-55, 90% going to the US. Some of those Germans would have
taken their harmonicas with them and so the filtering down process
begins. How many will never be known.
>
> However, the Germans are the largest and most longstanding ethnic
group in the US. A great number also served during the Civil War, on
both sides. There were about 73 thousand Germans in the south, mostly in
Texas, Louisiana and Virginia. The numbers in the north were much
higher. Just look at the Germanic names of many US northern towns and
cities. How many of those soldiers took their harmonica's with them?
Based on the number of harmonica artifacts in the relic market, it would
appear that there were lots of harmonicas around. Remember, music is a
very integral part of the military and war. The Civil War period was
extremely prolific in its musical output. However, it may not have been
as prolific in its harmonica output; so, as Winslow suggests, caution is
advised with respect to Civil War battlefield harmonica pieces.
>
> Canada also fits into this picture, by providing more than 55,000 men
during the US Civil War. Between 1830-50 more than 50,000 Germans
settled in Upper Canada (Ontario).
> Many of those Germans and others crossed the border to participate in
the war. Remember, Hohner sent some of his earlier harmonicas to his
cousin Hans in Canada. So again, how many carried their harmonicas with
them?
>
> By 1910, the population of Mexico was about 15 million, including 8
million mestizos, 6 million Indians and 1 million whites. Hohner was now
a major player in the harmonica market. But why should the Mexicans
adopt the harmonica into their culture? If you apply the filter down
theory, the harmonica could have come from the US, a military and
political
> threat to Mexico, or from Europe which saw Mexico as a colony and
included it in its wars.
> A harmonica played by the white ruling class, or a US or Austrian
soldier, would not endear the instrument to the common Mexican. Perhaps,
under different circumstances, the harmonica would have had a more
positive image for the people of Mexico. Look at the present rate of
growth of the harmonica in other South American countries. Maybe Nexico
will be the next big market.
>
> Manfred Wewers
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