high-end diatonic blues

[Henry Gould <AP201070@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A friend of mine gave me a homemade compilation of early harp blues from
the 20s & 30s.  Unfortunately no list of players or song titles.  What
was interesting to me was that 90% was being played very soprano -
up at the high end of the harp.  Some amazing trills & bird-sounds
often thrown in.  This is high-end old-timey stuff you don't hear in
your average contemporary r& b playing today.  Annie Raines I
heard playing some on the G Keillor show.
   Any words to the wise on this from you wise dilated harpolaters
out there?  I haven't even tried playing like this yet (though I do
the occasional high-end bend).  Is this old style mostly straight
or cross- harp?  Has this thread been worn thin and unraveled
already?   --Henry Gould