Articulation

[Douglas Tate <100576.3265@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

RKT says that the harmonica has not got the same range of articulation
possibilities that other instruments have.

IMHO the harmonica is just another instrument, no more, no less.

The fact that it happens to have about the widest range of tonal colouration
(coloration) of any non electronic instrument.  The almost unique ability to 
play soft and sweetly in high registers.  The fact that it has a very wide
volume
range, although this is skewed lower than most orchestral instruments. The fact 
that  each reed is capable of more manipulation within each note than almost any
other  (think of the poor oboe!)     All these have nothing to do with the IMHO
above ... that is a separate issue.

One other thing I did not mention was the remarkable articulation possibilities
the 
harmonica, mouth organ, harp, gob-iron, has.  The fact that an individual 
possibility does not extend over the whole range can be used to positive
surprise 
artistic advantage.  (As mentioned by RKT)  Just as a matter of fact, other
instruments 
have difficulties too. Listen to a violin when the player loses most of the
control of a 
note when playing an open string. Listen to the quite violent change in sound as
a clarinet changes register. Heard a violin solo sonata?  Unless played by a 
1st class World master, the arpeggieated excuse for a chord of 3/4 notes sounds
like
the death throes of a cat in combat with 13 dogs.   I could go on
................
You, yes, I mean anyone reading this garbage,  try thinking of the various ways 
you can attack a single note, more to the point, try them, and then post a
little 
note saying you think this Goddam lovely instrument lacks articulatory
possibilities

 ... I dare you ...

That feels better.