Harmonica as a Religion

[the Leones <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

>>
>>   Sitting around the hospt. for the last week has brought the 
>>persistant return of an epiphany I had some years ago;
>>  Most religions have 5 things in common.
>>1...Belief in a Deity.
>>2...A Doctrine (Teachings of Salvation)
>>3...A Code of Conduct.
>>4...Sacred Stories (Enlightenment)
>>5...Rituals/Ceremonies/Acts.
>>
>>  On the subject of Deity, most religions are based on a GOOD 
>>entity. In the case of harmonica, the SUBJECT is an OBJECT. Do not 
>>be afraid that this smacks of "Idolatry" or paganism. The subject 
>>is the harmonica, the harmonica IS good, AND it is NOT trying to 
>>replace religion (per se), just augment it.
>>
>>  Just as religions have leaders or "top dogs" such as Pope, 
>>Ayatollah, Mullah, Patriarch, Dali Lama, Rabbi, Cardinals, Bishops, 
>>and I'm not sure what you call a Shinto, Confucianist, or Taoist 
>>leader, BUT these personages run the "gamut" all the way from the 
>>very high to the very lowly Monk or Friar.
>>
>>  In the harmonica world there is also a pecking order with 
>>personages running the entire range from Concert Maestro to the bum 
>>who plays down in Hobo Jungle.
>>
>>   There are edifices, porticos, facades, and in general "Buildings" 
>>or meeting places used in religion. These can be as ornate as 
>>Mormon Tabernacle, St. Peters, Angor-Wat, the Kabala in Mecca, (you 
>>get the idea), down the range to the little white country church 
>>with the wooden steeple, and a cross spray painted gold with 
>>Rustoleum, further along to the Mission of Nombre Dos Dios (a 
>>chapel so small that only 3 people will fit in there at a time), to 
>>the tent along the river where the people are Baptised, to the 
>>shrines alongside the roads in europe and asia.
>>
>>   Same thing in the harmonica world. You have Carnegie Hall & La 
>>Scala Opera House. You have the big-city Civic Auditorium. You have 
>>the State/County Fair, the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, the 
>>American Legion in Kokomo Ind.. As the venues get SMALLER 
>>(supper-club, neighborhood bar, road house, picnic ground), the 
>>names of the "Prophets" are less well known. This doesn't mean 
>>their heart isn't just as pure. Many a prophet has let a wretched 
>>miserable life all for the love of the harmonica.
>>
>>   Various religions have various "equipment" or objects that they 
>>use. These can be chalices ranging all the way from the gold cup 
>>encrusted with jewels such as found at the Vatican, to the silver 
>>cup made from melted down donated jewelry from the paritioners, all 
>>the way down to the terra cotta bowl used at the last supper. I'm 
>>sure all religions have similar vessels.
>>
>>   Same goes for harmonicas. They cover the entire spectrum from 
>>Concert/Custom way down to the $1.00 Johnson Harp.
>>
>>   Many religions have Saints, Prophets, Heros, Icons.
>>
>>   So does harmonica world.
>>
>>   Religions have literature. This can be the Koran, Bible, Talmud, 
>>Hindu Vedas, etc.
>>
>>   This is where the harmonica world is a little lacking. While 
>>numerous publications exist, and there are several people who have 
>>dedicated their lives to amassing a compendium of information, this 
>>has NOT been co-lated under one "roof" so to speak. We DO, however, 
>>have CDs, Tapes, DVDs, VCRs, Vinyl & Bakelyte recordings as well as 
>>wax cyllinders, wire recordings. THIS, then, is our " Religious 
>>Library"
>>
>>   Most religions (if not ALL) are basically based on FAITH. Faith 
>>in a better life. Faith in a better after-life (if applicable).
>>
>>   Returning to the points I mentioned at the beginnings of this 
>>post; I feel that harmonica can make a soul feel better. It can be 
>>quite up-lifting. It seems that if too long a time transpires 
>>between playing sessions, a certain "emptyness" or craving 
>>develops. It always feels good to be around people of the same 
>>interest (belief?). Just as religions tend to pull people together, 
>>so too does the little "Wheeze-Box That Could"
>>
>>   And while everyone may not have followed a code of conduct, I 
>>believe that if Will Rogers were around, he would have said I never 
>>met a harmonica player I didn't like.
>>
>>   Salvation?....Hell, I don't know, but as for the "Sacred 
>>Stories"..that's up to US, and I think we're doing it. Now that we 
>>have these marvelous electronical facilities at hand, we MUST keep 
>>the "WORD" going.
>>
>>   Rituals/Ceremonies?....Sure, let's keep doing This. Hey, I got 
>>the Holey spirit, be it 16 holes, 14, 12, 10, even 4.
>>
>>   Smokey-Joe