Re: [Harp-L] Customizing problems/ Chris where is you at HELP!!

["Dave Murray" <dmurray777@xxxxxxx>]

> By the way tons of people can play a chromatic scale in one breath 
> perfectly
> in tune on diatonic... where have you been??? Put MP, Michalek or George
> Brooks or me or half the people on this list up against the bend O meter 
> any
> day baby! Bring it on!!!! John Henry style! Chris where are you!!!???

While I admittedly don't have the best ear, and also enjoy the harp playing 
of some people who are not held in the highest esteem on this list for their 
harp laying skills, I'll go on to say the following. The issue that seems to 
come up in this kind of discussion  seems to center on tone and intonation. 
Often the point of reference is other instruments that are chromatic without 
special skills.

The only players on the list that I've heard live are Chris (quite a few 
times) and you, Jason, (once). The others I have heard recorded. It has been 
good music, enjoyed by everyone present. That should be enough, but some 
choose to argue that it isn't.

I don't think that most music lovers who do not know about the limitations 
of the diatonic harp would perceive anything "strange" about any of the 
notes that they hear from the players that you mention. That should be 
enough, but some choose to argue that it isn't.

The diatonic harp has it's own sound, that is why the players who have 
devoted the time in the wood shed that it takes to play like that. It's not 
because they couldn't learn to play a slide harp, obviously they could. 
People who enjoy listening don't enjoy it because of a "Wow, you're not 
supposed to be able to do that!" factor, they enjoy the music.

I don't have the time for the wood shed that it would take for me to learn 
to do that, but I'm not about to let the taste of sour grapes drive me to 
look for ways to find fault with the music of those who have. I know that 
Chris is conscious of the tone thing because he has devoted a lot of work 
towards reducing perception to tone and intonation effects to the point that 
very few would notice, and even fewer would choose to mention. It is 
certainly down below the noise level of "it's a harmonica."

The bottom line of this ramble is that it is clear that people do play the 
diatonic harp as a chromatic instrument. To say that they aren't is a bit 
like saying that a gifted singer can't sing chromatically because there is a 
small difference in tone when they shift from belly, to chest, to head while 
singing in different octaves. I just don't get why anyone would make such an 
argument in this day and age. Chromaticism has arrived for the diatonic. At 
least it is clear enough for my ear.

Peace and music,
Dave