Harmonica as a Religion
- Subject: Harmonica as a Religion
- From: the Leones <leone@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 23:39:10 -0400
>>
>> 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
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