[Harp-L] XB40s and CX12s

["Sam Jones" <samjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi John,

Really enjoyed the audio and video sections of your presskit, great rhythm
on the solo Irish reels. I'm very interested in Celtic Harmonica and fiddle
tunes and don't have anyone to talk technique with either (because I don't
know anyone else who plays Irish music using tongue blocking and tongue
switching), so your message inspired me to stop lurking and post something.

 

I played some Irish harp for the first time at a small gig a couple of
months ago, here's my Lilting Banshee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu3ozD7K9Mw

 

and here's the swallowtail jig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EST6akIan-8

 

I play everything tongue blocking, and on both tunes I tongue switch a lot,
especially between holes 4 and 6 (which I find very useful for 3rd position
Irish jigs like the swallowtail jig).

 

All the best,

 

Sam

 

 

From: john coster <john.medicineb@xxxxxxxxx>

To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 7:10 AM

Subject: [Harp-L] XB40s and CX12s

I mainly play XB40s or CX 12s when not using tremolo harps. I heard that
XB40s are being discontinued. Is this true? And CX12s>>>they sound great but
the valves stick so often that I hesitate to use them in a concert.

Notes invariably seems to stick then pop out of time. UUGH> Any advice on
these issues? If any of you are interested in "Celtic Harmonica",
i.e.playing tunes based on the broader Trans Atlantic tradition of dance
music and fiddle tunes, I'd love to hear from you. Track #3 in the audio
section of this press kit is an Irish Reel. I'm interested in talking
technique with any who play this kind of music and find very few players who
do.

 

John Coster

 

http://www.powerpresskits.com/PPKs/indexC.aspx?PPK=12815#.UNKTEki_17U.gmail