Re: [Harp-L] How We Can Save the Chromatic Harmonica from Possible Extinction

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Randy,

Okay, I gotta take a deep breath here... Meditate a
moment... MMMMMMMMM... Try not to say anyting I'll
regret later.

At first I thought Randy was kidding... but no, the
person's letter seemed very sincere.

But even after trying to look beyond the obvious
bias toward the chromatic and a few misinformed
concepts -- even then I hardly know how to respond.
I can see why Randy reserved comment... but not
me... Oh no... I'm gonna go ahead and step in it.
(gulp).

This person obviously loves the chromatic harmonica
very much and is worried about it's future.
Personally, I believe the best way to ensure its
future is to simply play it. 

Okay, I'm primarily a diatonic guy, but I play and
own at least six chromatic instruments, so I don't
have anything ~against~ chromatic harmonicas,
chromatic harmonica players or anything like
that.... 

...however...

I really don't think the diatonic harmonica is
"gaining in popularity over the chromatic
harmonica". I can't even understand where such a
notion might have come from.

The diatonic harmonica was invented well before the
chromatic harmonica and as far as I know, has
outsold it from day one. The diatonic harmonica has
been more popular than the chromatic from day one.
You might want to check volume of instruments sold
and (gross profits) with Hohner, but in terms of
popularity, I bet the diatonic has ~always~ been
number one. It's the chromatic harmonica that is
the late commer.

Then there's the issue of the diatonic harmonica
being "easier to play". I believe that is very much
up to debate. Sure, you can play Mary Had a Little
Lamb very easily on a diatonic... but you can play
that very easily on a chromatic too. 

Playing in more than one key on a Chromatic is
difficult, but playing well in more than one key on
a given diatonic harmonica is tough too, perhaps
more difficult than on a chromatic, given that the
note arrangement is different in each of the
instrument's three octaves. 

Personally, I think that's a ~very~ mis-informed
statement. I know chromatic guys who play much
better on chromatic than I do, but who can't play
the simplest blues lick on a diatonic harp. Which
is easier? Highly debatable.

The cost factor is a huge one. Chromatic harps are
definately more expensive than diatonics. I'll give
her that. Likely one of the most salient reasons
for the extreme popularity of the diatonic.

Finally, I take issue with her statement about the
chromatic being a "superior" instrument. Superior
in what regard? Erm... Okay, I won't address that
one because I'll start staying things I'll regret
after I hit "send".

As to her notion of adopting another name for the
chromatic harmonica... well, I wish her luck with
that. Didn't Larry Adler -- one of the greatest and
most popular chromatic players the world has ever
known -- didn't he insist on calling the chromatic
harmonica a "mouth organ"? Not sure how well that
idea stood the test of time. 

I beleive the name-change task would require a
monumental effort, and would very likely result
much more confusion than it woule ever clear up.
New words for things do evolve, but generally come
about over time through popular usage of the new
term. One can't simply declare a new word for
something, it needs to evolve. 

The chromatic harmonica was essentially a further
development of the already existing diatonic
harmonica. Should we also come up with new names
for the chord harmonica? The bass harmonica? The
tremolo or echo harmonica? 

Bottom line for me: the commonalities between all
these instruments far outsrip their differences.
You use your breath to move a series of
free-swinging metal reeds aligned in a row... and
in that way you make MUSIC. 

All harmonicas have the potential to take you to
various musical places. You get out of them what
you put into them. I feel bad that this person
believes that the chromatic harmonica is in danger
of extinction unless it gets another name. That's
not the problem.

Just get out there and play it! I believe it's the
~music~ that perserves the instrument, not the
name. It's ~people~ making music. Play your
instrument and it will never become extinct ... not
as long as it gets played.

Okay, I'm done.

Flumuxed in Colorado,
--Ken M.

--- randy singer <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Here is a letter i am posting that one of my
> harmonica students wrote. 
> I think it is an intriguing concept, though I 
> have not had a chance to 
> fully analyze it.
> 
> 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> > From: "Phillip L. Miller"
> <pemiller86@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: October 3, 2005 5:16:49 AM EDT
> > To: "randy singer" <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: An Article Written by J. Elaine Miller
> >
> >   
> >              How We Can Save the Chromatic
> Harmonica from Possible 
> > Extinction
> >       (This article was written by my wife, J.
> Elaine Miller, who is a 
> > chromatic player)
> >  
> >    As most of us know, the diatonic harmonica
> is gaining in popularity 
> > over the chromatic harmonica and is threatening
> its very existence.  
> > Some of the obvious reasons for this are, 1)
> The diatonic harmonica is 
> > easier to play and 2) the chromatic harmonica
> is much more expensive 
> > to purchase.  There is a third reason, that is
> less obvious, and that 
> > is that the two instruments share the same
> name, harmonica.  This 
> > implies that the two instruments are similar,
> but for those of use who 
> > play the chromatic harmonic, we realize that
> there is a world of 
> > difference between the two instruments.  It is
> for this reason, that I 
> > am suggesting that the two instruments should
> not share the same name.
> >  
> >     The name harmonica implies a similarity
> between the two 
> > instruments that does not exist.  The average
> non-harmonica player 
> > does not know the different between these two
> instruments and thinks 
> > that they are one of the same.  I feel that
> sharing the name, 
> > harmonica, between these two instruments is
> contributing to a lack of 
> > knowledge about the chromatic instrument is an
> unseen factor in the 
> > decline in popularity of the chromatic
> harmonica.
> >  
> >    In contrast, the keyboard instruments do not
> share the same name, 
> > and thereby are not threatening the existence
> of each of the other 
> > instruments.  The piano, organ, and keyboard
> are all keyboard 
> > instruments with different names, thereby
> making it easy for the non 
> > musical person to recognize the difference
> between these instruments.  
> > If the three instruments were called pianos or
> some other name in 
> > common, they would be confused with each other,
> just as the diatonic 
> > and chromatic harmonicas are.  For example, we
> do not call the piano 
> > an organ or visa versa, or the keyboard a piano
> or organ.  They are 
> > similar but different instruments.
> >  
> >    I am suggesting that we keep the name of the
> diatonic harmonica 
> > unchanged and that we change the name of the
> chromatic harmonica to a 
> > chromonica. The term chromonica is already in
> use so that the only 
> > change that would be made is to drop the word
> harmonica, when 
> > referring to the chromatic instrument.  This
> would give the chromatic 
> > instrument its own name, and help to
> distinguish it from the diatonic 
> > harmonica.
> >  
> >    It is a real shame that these two
> instruments have shared the same 
> > name, harmonica, as this has prevented the
> chromatic instrument from 
> > being recognized as the superior instrument
> that it is.  The chromatic 
> > instrument has all the qualities necessary to
> qualify as an orchestral 
> > instrument.  Unlike the diatonic harmonica, it
> has all the notes and 
> > can be played in all keys, even when it is
> pitched in a key other than 
> > C.  (Some of the orchestral instruments are
> pitched in other keys as 
> > well, such as the B flat or A clarinet.)  The
> chromatic instrument 
> > will never gain the respect it deserves and may
> face possible 
> > extinction if it is not given its own name, so
> that it can be 
> > distinguished from the diatonic harmonica.



		
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com